(s’Hertogenbosch 1606–1669)
An Allegory of William, Prince of Orange, later William III,
inscribed lower centre on the stairs: ad hoc spes donat,
signed lower left: T. van Tul...,
oil on canvas, 45 x 34 cm, framed

Provenance:
possibly Count of Dohna, 18th century
sale Christie’s London, 4th December 1970, lot 88 (as A. van Dyck)
Private Collection, Genoa

Literature:
R. A. d’Hulst, Enkele Tekeningen van Theodoor van Thulden, in: Album amicorum J. G. van Gelder, The Hague 1973, pp.186-190. P. 187, ill. 4;
A. Roy, Theodoor van Thulden een Zuidnederlandse barokschilder, Zwolle 1991,
pp. 86-87, ill. 60

The present painting, sold at Christie’s (4th December 1970) with an attribution to Antony van Dyck, was recognized as an autograph work of Theodoor van Thulden in 1973 by R. A. d’Hulst (R. A. d’Hulst, Enkele Tekeningen van Theodoor van Thulden, The Hague 1973, p. 187, ill. 4). The work, which is signed by the artist, was published in 1991 by Alan Roy as an oil sketch for a larger composition by van Thulden (A. Roy, Theodoor van Thulden een Zuidnederlandse barokschilder, Zwolle 1991, pp. 86-87, ill. 60).

This composition represents an allegory of William III as successor to the House of Orange-Nassau. It shows the interior of the Temple of Peace, to the right is the Figure of Time introducing the youthful Prince to the House of Nassau and Orange.

Three drawings, one in the Victoria and Albert Museum (Inv. n. DYCE. 491) and two in the Albertina, Vienna (cat. no. 70 and 71), have been related to this oil sketch. They are possibly all preparatory for a set of allegorical subjects designed for a ceiling and connected to the birth of William III, heir of the Orange Nassau family. Thanks to Roy’s studies, the present painting might be identified as the one in the collection of the Count of Dohna, as recorded by an inscription on the back of the drawing in the Victoria and Albert Museum (see: Roy 1991, p. 86).