Engraved portrait of the Arminian preacher Hendrick Danielsz. Slatius (1585-1623), wearing handcuffs and the clothes of a farmer. Slatius was arrested (and later executed) as one of the conspirators in the failed attempt to assassinate Maurits of Nassau, Prince of Orange, in 1623. The print was issued with either Dutch or French poems at the left.
A heated theological and political conflict had raged in the Low Countries between the Arminians (from 1610 also called Remonstrants) and Gomarists for more than a decade when it came to a head with the Synod of Dort (1618/19), which decided in favour of the Gomarists. The Synod led to the 1619 execution of the Republic's greatest statesman Johan van Oldenbarnevelt, who had supported the Arminian cause. In revenge his sons Reinier and Willem conspired to assassinate the (Gomarist) Dutch stadholder Maurits of Nassau, Prince of Orange. Other prominent members of Dutch society who had political, religious or personal grudges against the Prince lent their support. The plot was betrayed in February 1623, and the conspirators arrested and executed from March to May.
A very good copy. Atlas van Stolk 1575 (Dutch issue); Hollstein XXXVIII, p. 30, no. 45 (all issues, 5 copies); Knuttel 3449 (this issue); Muller, Historieplaten 1495c (this issue).