It remains a stroke of fortune that in the turbulent times of the 17th century with its
numerous cultural and military upheavals the artistic depiction of human life took a similarly
rapid and proliferous development. Never before in history had society in all its squalor and
splendor been presented in so many pictures of outstanding artistic quality. At the end of the
16th century the Golden Age of Painting began to evolve especially in the Low Countries. Many
contemporary paintings also show events from the Eighty Years War the United Provinces'
struggle for independence from Spain. However an entire generation of artists also chose to
paint events from the great European conflict which erupted at the same time: the Thirty Years
War.Born in Antwerp Pieter Snayers was a fairly typical representative of this generation of
painters. From a military historian's point of view his works are considered particularly
authentic. Many of his paintings showing sieges betray meticulous care in the depiction of the
cities and fortresses concerned. Snayers' topographical and analytical approach remains
unsurpassed. Even his paintings of major battles (which rarely occurred) defy any form of
profound criticism. Snayers' rendering of the everyday life of the common people involved is
straightforward graphic and occasionally dramatic. We are thus able to gain insight into the
events of his time unimpeded by clichés and historic myth.Pieter Snayers' works are on display
in numerous collections worldwide. With the help of his paintings many of which are very large
in format this lavishly illustrated book will seek to relate the history of the conflicts
depicted. Author Roland Sennewald has compiled a collection of more than 100 of Snayers' works
from all over the world creating an impressive testimony of his creative talent and relating
the story of both the Eighty and Thirty Years Wars and the times before and after.
