Sebastiaen Vrancx (Antwerp 1573-1647)

This painting depicts the well-known battle between Braut and Lekkerbetje on 5 February 1600 at Vught. The incident occurred during the Eighty Years' War after Braut, a French nobleman in the service of Prince Maurits of Orange, had insulted the Lord of Grobbendonck, Governor of the pro-Spanish city of s'Hertogenbosch. A duel between the two was then arranged and each arrived with twenty horsemen (the incident is also known as 'The Battle of the Forty'). However, it was soon discovered that Grobbendonck had sent his lieutenant, Leckerbeetje, in his place. Enraged, Braut immediately killed him, whereupon a violent battle ensued, in which the Frenchman was eventually defeated and killed. The two letters at the lower centre of the copper here may read 'IB' or 'LB', indicating perhaps 'L(ecker)B(eetje)'.