Ruiterportret van Willem III, prins van Oranje

John Faber the Younger created this mezzotint of William III, Prince of Orange. Faber, working in the 18th century, was part of a world that still clung to the idea of the heroic leader. Here, William III is immortalized in the traditional pose of a triumphant military leader, mounted on a rearing horse, overlooking a battlefield. But look closer, and you see the layers of identity and history at play. William, a Dutchman who became King of England, Scotland, and Ireland, represents a complex intersection of power, religion, and national identity. He was a symbol of Protestantism against the Catholic King James. This image isn't just a portrait; it's a carefully constructed piece of propaganda. The inscription reads, "In Memory of our late GLORIOUS DELIVERER King William the III". It presents William as a savior, a figure who 'delivered' the British people. It speaks volumes about how leaders are remembered, and how history is shaped by those in power.