Rarities of These Lands : Art, Trade, and Diplomacy in the Dutch Republic

A vivid account of Dutch seventeenth-century art and material culture against the backdrop of the geopolitics of the early modern world The seventeenth century witnessed a great flourishing of Dutch trade and culture. Over the course of the first half of the century, the northern Netherlands secured independence from the Spanish crown, and the nascent republic sought to establish its might in global trade, often by way of diplomatic relations with the Ottoman Empire and other Muslim powers. Central to the political and cultural identity of the Dutch Republic were curious foreign goods the Dutch called "rarities." Rarities of These Lands explores how these rarities were obtained, exchanged, stolen, valued, and collected, tracing their global trajectories and considering their role within the politics of the new state. Claudia Swan’s insightful, engaging analysis offers a novel and compelling account of how the Dutch Republic turned foreign objects into expressions of its national self-conception. Rarities of These Lands traces key elements of the formation of the Dutch Republic―artistic and colonialist ventures alike―offering new perspectives on this momentous period in the history of the Netherlands and its material culture.

A vivid account of the exoticism of the Dutch Republicat a critical moment in its cultural and political historyThe seventeenth century witnessed a great flourishing of Dutchtrade and culture. Over the course of the first half of thecentury, the northern Netherlands secured independence from theSpanish crown, and the nascent republic sought to establish itsmight in global trade, often by way of diplomatic relations withthe Ottoman Empire and other Muslim powers. Central to thepolitical and cultural identity of the Dutch Republic were curiousforeign goods the Dutch called "rarities." Rarities of TheseLands explores how these rarities were obtained, exchanged,stolen, valued, and collected, tracing their global trajectoriesand considering their role within the politics of the new state.Claudia Swan's insightful, engaging analysis offers a novel andcompelling account of how the Dutch Republic turned foreign objectsinto expressions of its national self-conception. Rarities ofThese Lands illuminates the formative years of the DutchRepublic, offering a timely examination of the art, politics, andexoticism of this momentous period in the history of theNetherlands.