Satire on the Trial of Johan van Oldenbarnevelt

In 1619, Grand Pensionary Johan van Oldenbarnevelt was accused of high treason and sentenced to death by a special court. Prince Maurits was suspected of involvement, with speculation of a sham trial. Saftleven portrayed the judges as ferocious animals menacing the elderly Oldenbarnevelt. Inscribed on the paper is ‘Trucidata Innocenta’ (murdered innocence), referring to a scathing play about the trial by Joost van den Vondel, a supporter of Oldenbarnevelt.