Portrait Carel Rabenhaupt

About this artwork.

The Portrait of Carel Rabenhaupt (Carl von Rabenhaupt, 1602 - 1675) is the oldest painting in the collection of the Municipality of Groningen. It was painted by painter David Simons (1631 - 1703) in 1673. The painting was donated to the municipality and accepted on August 5, 1843. Little is known about the painter. He was probably born in Groningen in 1631 and died there in 1703 at the age of 72.

Prior to the disaster year of 1672, Carel Rabenhaupt – Baron van Sucha, heir in Lichtenburg and Tremosnice (Bohemia), "general - lieutenant of the militia of City and Country" – was hired as an army commander for 4,000 riksdalers by the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands to defend the city of Groningen. As an army commander, he defended the city of Groningen against the invasion of the bishop of Münster, nicknamed ‘Bombing Berend. The enemy soldiers, more than 20,000 in number, besieged the city from the south, in the vicinity of the Kempkensberg and Helpman. After a week-long siege, in which some 4,600 soldiers from the Münster-Cologne army and about 100 inhabitants of the city were killed, the bishop stopped his shelling. Groningen was finally relieved on 28 August. Every year on this date the Stadjers still celebrate this event with the party ‘Bombing Berend'.

In 1972, the bust of Carl von Rabenhaupt was presented to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the Groningen Relief. The monument is located next to the City Hall on Waagplein and is part of the art route through the city center of Groningen. The bust was made by the well-known artist Willem Valk.

Many may know the name Rabenhaupt because of the Rabenhauptstraat in the Herewegbuurt, named after him.

Facts & Figures.

• Artist(s)
  David Simons

• Year of creation
  1673

• Dimensions (in cm)
  108x99

• Collection
  Town Hall Collection

• Technic
  Oil paint on canvas