Why it matters
A life-size mute swan defends its nest against a dog. By 1800 it was read as a political allegory of the grand pensionary Johan de Witt protecting the country, and inscriptions to that effect were added.
Did you know?
- It dates from around 1650.
- It measures 144 × 171 cm.
- It is signed with the monogram 'A'.
Based on the Wikipedia article The Threatened Swan (CC BY-SA 4.0).
