Count William III passes judgement on the sheriff of South Holland, 1336 [set of seven prints]

Beschrijving

The complete scene consists of a large print in the middle (here missing – nr.6) and six prints around it, numbered from 1 to 7. Signed on the first print, below within margin: ‘CJVisscher excudebat’ (CJV interlaced). The first plate shows the sheriff trying to buy the cow from a farmer: on the right the sheriff with a bag of money and on the left the farmer and his family. In the background the cow being milked by the wife of the farmer. The second plate shows the sheriff leaving with the cow that has been exchanged with another; on the background the family witnesses the scene helplessly. The third plate shows the sheriff complaining to William III, ill and old in bed at Valenciennes; The fourth plate shows the sheriff of Dordrecht receiving the letter from William III asking to appear at the court of Valenciennes; In the fifth plate William III in bed hears the version of the farmer – on the left – and of the Sheriff of South Holland, who is standing next to the Sheriff of Dordrecht; the seventh plate is divided in two: on the left the sheriff of Dordrecht is paying 100 gold pieces to the farmer, whereas on the right the wife of the sheriff of South Holland is crying on the coffin of the dead husband.