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Set of Three Historic Dutch Prints – Floris V, Utrecht 1252, Amstel Sermon
This set of three finely hand-coloured 17th-century etchings presents dramatic episodes from Dutch history and religion, reflecting the turbulent political and spiritual climate of the Low Countries.
The first print depicts the clandestine preaching of Pieter Pietersz. Bekjen on the Amstel in Amsterdam in 1568, etched by Jan Luyken and published in 1693. In a small rowing boat on the Amstel, Bekjen preaches to his followers under threat of persecution, with the city’s defensive walls and the Swych Utrecht tower rising in the background. This striking composition is both a testament to religious resistance and a visual document of Amsterdam’s early modern skyline.
The second print, produced between 1662 and 1664 records the capture of Gijsbrecht van Amstel and Herman van Woerden by Henry I van Vianden, bishop of Utrecht, on 16 June 1252. It shows the two noblemen being paraded as prisoners through the city gate in a grand procession of soldiers, banners, and drummers. The scene is rich in historical detail, combining pageantry with the humiliation of the defeated.
The third print illustrates the infamous murder of Count Floris V of Holland on 27 June 1296. Betrayed and seized by a group of nobles led by Gerard van Velzen, Floris V’s dramatic downfall became one of the most memorable episodes in medieval Dutch history, symbolising both treachery and the fragility of power.
Together, these works exemplify the Dutch 17th-century fascination with national history, moral reflection, and the Reformation struggle. They offer collectors a rare opportunity to acquire three related prints that vividly illustrate defining moments in the story of the Northern Netherlands.
Condition report: All three prints in very good condition with rich hand-colour, light age-toning, and minor handling signs. Strong impressions with visible plate marks. Paper with blank versos.
Framing tips: These prints are ideally suited for display as a group, either in matching gilt frames with ivory mounts to highlight their historical dignity, or in dark wood frames with subtle double matting (cream with a thin red or green inner line) to bring out the vivid hand-colour. Displayed side by side, they form a compelling narrative sequence of Dutch history.
Technique: Hand-coloured etching
Maker: Jan Luyken (Amsterdam, 1693) & anonymous printmakers (Northern Netherlands, ca. 1662–1664)
