Amsterdam. Rijksmuseum.

Left: ‘Fishing for Souls’ (1614) by Adriaen van de Venne. “At the left are the Protestant north Netherlanders, and at the right the Catholic southerners. Both parties fish for souls in the wide river dividing them. The Protestants’ catch is greater than that of the Catholics. Moreover, at the left the sun is shining and the trees are in leaf. This is a reference to a psalm: the righteous will flourish like a tree bearing fruit, whose leaves never wither.”

Top right: ‘Self-portrait’ (c. 1628) by Rembrandt van Rijn.

Bottom right: ‘Skating Owls’ (1620-1640) by Adriaen Matham.