Circle of Frans Francken the Younger

With Philip Van Collem, Brussels;

From whom acquired by the present owner in 1997.

These panels depict the German folk tale of the faithful wives of Weinsberg. In 1140, when Conrad III of Germany (1093/94–1152) defeated Welf VI (1115–1191) and placed Weinsberg under siege, the wives of the besieged castle negotiated a surrender, which granted them the right to leave with whatever they could carry on their shoulders. The king, unware of the wives' ruse, allowed them this concession. Leaving everything else behind, each woman took her own husband on her shoulders and carried him out to safety. When the king discovered their ploy, he burst into laughter and accepted their actions. He said, after all, that a leader must always stay true to their word.