Join our email list
The Threatened Swan
Ref: sk-a-4
A swan fiercely defends its nest against a dog. In later centuries this scuffle was interpreted as a political allegory: the white swan was thought to symbolize the Dutch statesman Johan de Witt (assassinated in 1672) protecting the country from its enemies. This was the meaning attached to the painting when it became the very first acquisition to enter the Nationale Kunstgalerij (the forerunner of the Rijksmuseum) in 1800.
Title: The Threatened Swan
Artist:
Date: c. 1650
Medium: canvas; oil paint (paint)
Type: painting
We will work quickly to ship your order as soon as possible. Once your order has shipped, you will receive an email with further information at the address provided during checkout.