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Prince William of Orange engaged Adriaen Thomasz Key to paint this portrait of him in 1579. Further commissions ensued, and the painter produced at least two comparable versions of it. This likeness of the prince has become iconic, which is due primarily to the fact that he is not depicted as a warrior or powerful ruler, but rather as a burgher.
This portrait depicts the sitter at the age of 46. With the naturalism typical of the painting of the North, the artist offers an objective vision of William, devoid of any idealization.
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