Terechtstelling van Henricus Slatius, Willem Perty en Jan en Abraham Blansaert - Claes Jansz. Visscher (II)

A 1623 historical print by Claes Jansz. Visscher (II) documenting the execution of four conspirators against Prince Maurice of Orange.

This historical print by Claes Jansz. Visscher (II) documents the execution of Henricus Slatius, Willem Perty, and the brothers Jan and Abraham Blansaert in 1623. These men were involved in a conspiracy against Prince Maurice of Orange, a period of significant political and religious tension within the Dutch Republic. The composition functions as a broadsheet, combining portraiture with narrative vignettes that detail the final moments of the condemned.

The print is organised into a grid, featuring circular portraits of the four men at the top and centre. Surrounding these portraits are smaller scenes depicting the specific methods of execution and the public nature of the punishment. The inclusion of extensive Dutch text provides a contemporary account of the events, serving as both a news report and a moralising document for the public. Visscher, a prolific publisher and engraver based in Amsterdam, utilised this medium to disseminate information about state affairs to a wide audience.

Visually, the work employs precise line work characteristic of seventeenth-century Dutch printmaking. The portraits are rendered with individualised features, while the smaller scenes rely on clear, descriptive gestures to convey the narrative. The layout reflects the conventions of early modern news media, where text and image were integrated to provide a comprehensive record of public events. This piece offers a view into the judicial practices and political climate of the early seventeenth century, capturing a moment of state authority in the aftermath of the failed plot.