Joost Cornelisz. Droochsloot (Utrecht 1586-1666)

The scene depicted marked the climax of the conflict between the States General of the United Provinces and the Remonstrants. The latter were led by Johan van Oldenbarnevelt (1547-1619), Advocate of the States in Holland, whose actions threatened the break-up of the nascent Dutch Republic. The States of Holland had authorised the raising of militias, waardgelders, to retain the peace that was threatened by the religious division among the Calvinist Remonstrants and the Contra- Remonstrants. The Contra-Remonstrant States General in The Hague, led by Prince Maurits of Nassau (1585-1625), the Stadholder, instituted a commission to disband them. The city of Utrecht, which had joined the state of Holland in opposition to the Contra-Remonstrants, was the first test for the commission. On 31 July 1618, the Prince entered the city and disarmed the waardgelders, and then proceeded to disarm the militias throughout Holland. On 23 August, Van Oldenbarnevelt was arrested. His trial in The Hague followed in November, and on 13 May 1619 he was beheaded on the Binnenhof.

Droochsloot depicted this subject various times. Versions can be found in the Rijksmuseum and in the Centraal Museum, Utrecht.