Pictures Dated 3rd October 2008

Christiaan Huygens, 17th century Dutch mathematician, astronomer and physicist, c1870.Artist: JH Rennefeld

Christiaan Huygens, 17th century Dutch mathematician, astronomer and physicist, c1870. Huygens (1629-1695) made important contributions in several scientific fields. He postulated that light consisted of waves, determined the nature of Saturn's rings, developed the pendulum clock, and applied the balance spring to the pocket watch. He also wrote the first book on Probability Theory, published in 1657. A print from Nederlands Geschiedenis en Volksleven in Schetsen, by J Van Lenner and J Ter Gouw. (Leiden, AW Sijthoff, c1870).

© The Print Collector / Heritage-Images

Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn, 17th century Dutch painter, c1870.Artist: CL van Kesteren

Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn, 17th century Dutch painter, c1870. Rembrandt (1606-1669) is generally considered one of the greatest painters in European art history and the most important in Dutch history. Rembrandt was also a proficient printmaker and made many drawings. His contributions to art came in a period that historians call the Dutch Golden Age (roughly equivalent to the 17th century), in which Dutch culture, science, commerce, naval power and political influence reached their pinnacles. A print from Nederlands Geschiedenis en Volksleven in Schetsen, by J Van Lenner and J Ter Gouw. (Leiden, AW Sijthoff, c1870).

© The Print Collector / Heritage-Images

Piet Pieterszoon Hein brings in the silver fleet, Netherlands, 1629 (c1870). Artist: W Steelink

Piet Pieterszoon Hein brings in the silver fleet, Netherlands, 1629 (c1870). Piet Hein (1577-1629) was a Dutch naval officer who became a popular hero because of his exploits in the Eighty Years War to secure the independence of the Netherlands from Spain. In 1628 he captured a Spanish treasure fleet in the Caribbean, returning home to a hero's welcome the following year. The spoils were sufficient to fund the Dutch army for eight months and to provide the Dutch East India Company's shareholders with a large cash dividend. A print from Nederlands Geschiedenis en Volksleven in Schetsen, by J Van Lenner and J Ter Gouw. (Leiden, AW Sijthoff, c1870).

© The Print Collector / Heritage-Images