Tomb of William the Silent in the Nieuwe Kerk, Delft, with an Illusionistic Curtain

When Delft painters depicted the tomb of William the Silent from various angles, they were often concerned with which of its sculptural figures fell into view. In this panel De Witte uses the columns, the curtain, and the narrow limits of view to focus attention upon the rear of the monument, which from this vantage point frames the bronze figure of Fame perched at the foot of the bier. The gentleman’s red cape, his gesturing hand, and a beam of light draw attention to the martyred prince. Two boys and the man’s attractive companion appear to absorb his words.

Although this panel dates from a period when Gerard Houckgeest, Hendrick van Vliet, and de Witte were continuously discovering new views of the Delft church interiors and their monuments, it still stands out as an extraordinary invention.

The painting is signed and dated lower right, on the column: E. De Witte A 1653.