MMaxi08

Artist: Amália Rodrigues

1957

Title The Bodies of the De Witt Brothers, Hanged at Groene Zoodje on Vijverberg in The Hague

Artist Jan de Baen

The 'Groene zoodje' on Vijverberg in The Hague, was, for a few days in August 1672, silent witness to this gruesome scene. Two naked bodies are hanging with their feet tied to the gallows. The belly of the body on the left has been ripped open. It is night time and the bodies are illuminated by a burning torch. These are the bodies of the De Witt brothers, Cornelius and Johan. Both played prominent roles in the Stadholderless Period (1651-1672). As the pensionary, Johan had been the most powerful statesman in the Republic for a long time. In the disaster year of 1672, their time was up, once and for all: Johan and Cornelius de Witt were lynched by a mob in The Hague.

Johan De witt


His pro-French policy however would prove to be his undoing. In the Dutch rampjaar (disaster year) of 1672, when France and England during the Franco-Dutch War (Third Anglo-Dutch War) attacked the Republic, the Orangists took power by force and expelled him. Recovering from an earlier attempt on his life in June, he was assassinated by a carefully organized lynch "mob" after visiting his brother Cornelis de Witt in prison. He was decoyed into this trap by a forged letter.

After the arrival of Johan de Witt the city guard was sent away to stop plundering farmers, the farmers were not found. Without any protection against the assembled mob the brothers were doomed. They were taken out of the prison and on their way to the scaffold killed. Immediately after their death the bodies were mutilated and fingers toes and other parts were cut off. The heart of Cornelis de Witt was exhibited for many years next to his brother's by Dirck Verhoeff[citation needed].
Nowadays most historians assume that his adversary and successor as leader of the government stadtholder William III of Orange was involved. At the very least he protected and rewarded the killers.


Year c. 1672-1702


 

Barco Negro, do filme “Os amantes do Tejo“

Artist: Amália Rodrigues


Album: Amália No Olympia 1957

LOST IN TRANSLATION  

De manhã com medo que me achasses feia
Acordei tremendo deitada na areia.
mas logo os teus olhos disseram que não
que o sol penetrou no meu Coração

Le matin avec crainte que vous m'avez trouvé laid
je me suis réveillé vers le haut du tremblement froid dans le sable
mais bientôt vos yeux ont indiqué qu'aucun alors
le soleil a pénétré à mon coeur

n the morning with fear that you found me ugly
I awoke up cold shivering in the sand
but soon your eyes said that no
then the sun penetrated in my Heart

Patron Saint of Madeira

Simbol of good health for me.
I'm not religious but that is not a reason not to believe.

Artist: Mariza

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