Satirical Print of William v, Half-soldier, Half-Bacchus
With his commander’s baton, Stadholder William V points to the bombardment of Hattem by his troops in 1786. His contemporaries condemned this cruel, unnecessary attack. His appearance as Bacchus, god of wine, symbolizes his profligate lifestyle. At the time, this was
a common complaint about the conduct of the nobility. In the distance, the prince leans out and vomits over a coach door.