MARS & VENUS: IMAGES OF WAR IN 17TH C. EUROPEAN ART
[Theodore K. Rabb, The Struggle for Stability in Early Modern Europe]
Pieter Brueghel (the elder) (1525?-1569)
Peasant Dance, Peasant Wedding 1568
Massacre of Innocents 1566
(on invasion of Netherlands by Spanish under Duke of Alva)
Triumph of Death 1564
Magpie on Gallows
1568
Titian
Doge of Venice
Emperor Charles V on horseback 1548
Philip II in armor 1550
Peter
Paul Rubens (1577-1640): Baroque painting (Flemish)
1. idealized portraits of rulers (early 17th century)
Henry IV, Ferdinand II
Duke of Lerma 1603
Archduke Ferdinand at Nordlingen
Duke of Buckingham
2. classical themes of courage, military prowess
Life of Decius Mus (Roman hero, 4th C. BC) 1617
3. progressive disillusionment with military themes
expressed in classical allegorical paintings
(after diplomatic service 1617-1630 and especially
after retirement from politics in 1635)
Constantine battle series 1622
Peace and War 1630 (for King Charles of Spain
Horrors of War 1638
Masacre of Innocents
Venus, Mars & Cupid
Venus, Ceres & Bacchus
4. late landscapes
Nicolas
Poussin (1594-1665): French Classicism
Massacre of Innocents 1625
Rape of the Sabine Women 1636
Diego
Velazquez (1599-1660) court painter to Philip IV of
Spain
Philip III Equestrian
Prince Baltasar Carlos 1634
Count of Olivares 1633
Surrender of Breda 1635
The God Mars 1640's
Jacques
Callot
Siege of Breda 1627
Miseries of War 1633 (etchings)
Martyrdom of St. Sebastian
Temptations of St. Anthony 1617 – traditional
1634 – military devils
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17th C. Warfare:
Statistics on battlefield casualties:
30
Years War (1618-1648)
Nordlingen 1634 - 58,000 troops; 20,000 die
1/3
Dutch
Wars of Louis XIV
Ohdenande 1694 160,000 troops; 8,000
die 1/20
Maldagent 1695 200,000 troops; 30,000 die 1/7
Conclusion:
late 17th C. battles are less than 1/2 as murderous
as those of 30 Years War: why?
Military
Revolution of 17th C.
response to the slaughter of 30 Years’ War
rise of professional standing armies (mercenaries)
uniforms, discipline, drills
increase in scale of military forces
16th C Spain Phillip II army of 40,000 men
17th C France Louis XIV army of 400,000 men
assertion of state control over armed forces
rulers as “commanders in chief”
1625
Hugo Grotius, Law of War and Peace
code for conduct of war, but “right of war” includes
acceptance of violence against prisoners, civilians