Triumphal arch erected in celebration of the entry of King William III
Medium
Engraving
Dimensions
Sheet (Trimmed): 10 1/8 × 11 15/16 in. (25.7 × 30.4 cm)
Classification
Prints|Prints-Fete|Ornament & Architecture
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 1962
Accession Number
62.600.461
Tags
Art Historical Context
This engraving by Jan van den Aveelen captures a grand triumphal arch constructed in 1691 to celebrate the ceremonial entry of King William III. Created as a print rather than a permanent structure, the work preserves the temporary architecture erected for public festivities, a common practice in Baroque Europe to honor royal arrivals and reinforce political authority. The detailed rendering highlights ornate columns, sculptural decorations, and heraldic symbols, inviting viewers to imagine the spectacle of the procession. As an engraving, the medium allowed for wide distribution of the image...