Tekstblad bij de allegorie op de Regensburger Amnestie, 1640-1641 1641

This is a broadside printed in the Netherlands, sometime around 1640 or '41. Its author is P. Foreri. This ‘Explanation of the Emblem, or Regensburg Amnesty’ refers to the 1641 agreement intended to resolve conflicts within the Holy Roman Empire. The text interprets an allegorical image, not present here, concerning the amnesty. It uses visual and literary metaphors to convey the complex political situation. The poem warns against the false peace, likening it to a wolf in sheep's clothing and a snake. There are references to the Spanish Court and the hope of reconciliation, as well as more ominous symbols like weapons and monsters from the underworld. Understanding this image requires knowledge of the historical and political context of the Thirty Years' War and the dynamics between various European powers. Scholars might consult diplomatic archives, pamphlets, and other printed materials from the period to fully grasp its meaning. Art is always contingent on these social and institutional contexts.