Art and allegiance in the Dutch Golden Age

Ferdinand Bol, one of Rembrandt's best-known pupils, made a unique ensemble of five wall-sized canvasses in the 1660s. This interdisciplinary study offers a unique perspective on this exceptional commission, identifying for the first time the origin and history of the paintings, until now shrouded in mystery, the paintings themselves scattered around the Netherlands. The recent restoration of the paintings provided the opportunity to conduct a 'forensic' technical investigation, which the author integrates with archival, historical, stylistic and cultural historical research. This integrated approach allows her to identify the painting's origin and the client: a wealthy, strict Calvinist widow from Utrecht who commissioned them over time, choosing themes which reflected her stance in the political and religious conflicts played out in her community.