Delft
The city of Delft developed around a number of canals that were dug, or "delved", around a natural river - hence the name. As the residence of William of Orange, one of the leaders of the Dutch resistance against the Spanish, Delft became the de facto capital when the Netherlands declared their independence in 1581.William was shot three years later and buried in the New Church of Delft - which has been the burial church of the House of Orange ever since.
Today, Delft is primarily known for the manufacture of blue and white pottery called "Delftware" and as the home town of the Golden Age painter Jan Vermeer.
Scenes from Real Life, with a Moral
The New Image of the Burgher
The 17th century was the Golden Age of the Netherlands. Wealthy burghers bought art in unheard-of quantities. And the masters of Dutch genre painting like Frans Hals, Jan Steen or Jan Vermeer delivered - always including moral caveats in their pictures…▶ The Berlin Gemäldegalerie▶ Netherlands
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