Leaving Troy, Hendrick Goltzius, Dutch

The Dutch Golden Age was a period from 1581 to 1672, when the Netherlands experienced the "Dutch Miracle", transcended to the foremost maritime and economic power. In 1568, the Seven Provinces started a rebellion against Philip II of Spain, leading to the Eighty Years' War with Spain and the Thirty Years' War between other European superpowers. Protestants moved from the southern to the northern Netherlands, many settled in Amsterdam, transforming a port town into one of the most important commercial centers in the world by 1630. In addition to the migration of Protestants, there were also influxes of refugees who had previously fled from religious persecution, particularly Sephardi Jews from Portugal and Spain, and Protestants from France. Catholics moved in the other direction - to the southern provinces, modern Belgium. North quickly gained the highest literacy rates in Europe, an abundance of capital, the largest merchant fleet in Europe. The Dutch dominated trade in the Baltic Sea, between China and Japan, and with the English colonies in North America. The Dutch East India Company (VOC) was the first multinational corporation, financed by shares that established the first modern stock exchange. The Bank of Amsterdam, the first central bank, was established in 1609. The Dutch Golden Age is the art period dominanted by Rembrandt, Vermeer, Jacob van Ruisdael, and Frans Hals. Some notable artistic styles and trends include Haarlem Mannerism, Utrecht Caravaggism, the School of Delft, the Leiden fijnschilders, and Dutch classicism. 1672 is called a disaster year" when the Dutch Republic was attacked by England, France, Münster, and Bavaria. The invading armies quickly defeated most of the Dutch States Army and conquered part of the Republic.

Sebastiaen Vrancx was a Flemish painter and draughtsman who was born in 1573 in Antwerp, Belgium. He was trained by his father, the painter Jan Vrancx, and later studied under Adam van Noort and Peter Paul Rubens. Vrancx was best known for his landscapes, battle scenes and genre paintings. His landscapes were often inspired by the countryside around Antwerp, and he often included historical or mythological figures in his scenes. His battle scenes were highly detailed, depicting both soldiers and civilians caught up in the chaos of war. Vrancx was also known for his genre paintings depicting everyday life in Antwerp. These works often depicted farmers, merchants and other ordinary people going about their daily activities. He was particularly good at capturing the personalities of his subjects, and his paintings are full of lively, animated figures. Vrancx was a member of the Guild of St Luke in Antwerp and was highly respected by his contemporaries. He died in Antwerp in 1647.