Prince’s Day

Jan Havicksz Steen (c. 1625–1679), oil on panel, c. 1660–1679

Prince’s Day! This popular feast-day celebrated the birthday (14 November 1650) of Prince William III of Orange-Nassau. How this was done is explained on the piece of paper on the floor in the middle foreground. This translates as: ‘To the health of the Nassau laddie, in one hand a rapier, and in the other a glass raised gladly.’ This is sure to boost spirits; the revellers take no notice of the portrait of the prince ‘overlooking’ the scene.

Artwork typepainting
Object numberSK-A-384
Dimensionsheight 46 cm x width 62.5 cm

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Identification

Object type
Object number
SK-A-384
Inscriptions / marks
- signature: ‘J. Steen’
- inscription: ‘Op de gesonheyt van het nasauss basie in de eene hant het rapier in de andere hant het glaesie.’
- inscription: ‘Salus patriae suprema lex esto’
- inscription: ‘Wij screuwe als leuwe’
Description
Prince’s Day! This popular feast-day celebrated the birthday (14 November 1650) of Prince William III of Orange-Nassau. How this was done is explained on the piece of paper on the floor in the middle foreground. This translates as: ‘To the health of the Nassau laddie, in one hand a rapier, and in the other a glass raised gladly.’ This is sure to boost spirits; the revellers take no notice of the portrait of the prince ‘overlooking’ the scene.
Catalogue reference
D van de Kellen (?), 'De prinsjesdag van Jan Steen', De oude tijd III, 1871, p. 209.

Creation

Creation
painter: Jan Havicksz. Steen
Dating
1660 - 1679
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Material and technique

Material
Dimensions
height 46 cm x width 62.5 cm

This work is about

Person
Subject

Acquisition and rights

Credit line
Dupper Wzn. Bequest, Dordrecht
Acquisition
bequest 1870
Copyright
Public domain

Documentation

- D van de Kellen (?), 'De prinsjesdag van Jan Steen', De oude tijd III, 1871, p. 209.
- A. van Duinkerken en P.J. G. Huincks, Dichters om Oranje : Oranje-poëzie van Willem de Zw?ger tot heden, Baarn 1946, p. 28.

Related objects

Persistent URL

To refer to this object, please use the following persistent URL:
https://id.rijksmuseum.nl/20015868