[Historical drawing] (Allegory on the tiranny of the Duke of Alba in the Netherlands).

Drawing in black chalk with grey wash, 54 x 84.5 cm., signed "M. pinx. 1622. VdWald (?) del. 1787", in old frame with old handwritten label on spine.

The drawing is very similar to (as well as very different from) a painting from 1627, kept at the Prinsenhof in Delft: https://tinyurl.com/y7klaqed. This painting was made after an engraving by Willem Jacobz. Delf after Adriaen van de Venne from 1622. The historical subject was apparently revived in that year 1622. Already in 1569 an engraving appeared with this subject depicted in this manner: "De troon van Alva". In our drawing and the three aforementioned older examples, the 17 Netherlands are depicted as chained women with the coats of arms of their province, while kneeling before Alba, who is crowned by the devil. Execution scenes are shown in the background. Extraordinary drawing on large size, of which we could not trace the maker and the painted example (monogram not in Nagler, the painting may have been lost).