king billy painting a mixed blessing

parkhead_rfb · king billy painting a mixed blessing

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/n...nd/5263210.stm

It sits in a side room at the back of the disused Senate Chamber inside Stormont's Parliament Buildings.

A monumental canvas apparently depicting the arrival of King William III in Ireland in the 1690s, it was purchased by the old Northern Ireland government back in March 1933.

But the controversial work of art was vandalised soon afterwards and has not been on public display for more than 20 years.

Now some say the time has come to hang it somewhere more prominent.

Buying the picture, thought to be the work of William of Orange's court artist Pieter van der Muelen, cost the old Stormont government £209 and four shillings.

Unionist MPs cheered when they heard of its acquisition. But those cheers gave way to bewilderment when the canvas was unveiled.

There in the foreground is a figure which looks like King Billy on his white charger.

But floating above him on a cloud is someone who appears to be Pope Innocent XI, apparently blessing his ally as he makes his way towards the Battle of the Boyne.

For those who celebrate the victory of the Protestant King William over the Catholic King James this may be an inconvenient reminder of the facts of 17th century great power politics.

But the Ulster Museum's Keeper of History, Trevor Parkhill, explains that "there is a well documented record that the Pope had a 'Te Deum' sung in the Vatican on hearing the outcome of the Battle of the Boyne".

"As Stalin would have said, they were objective allies in the 1690s against the Sun King Louis XIV who was at that time the most dominant authority in power in Europe," he added.

Back in the 1930s some couldn't stomach that kind of talk.

In May 1933 a group of visitors from the Scottish Protestant League were touring Parliament Buildings when they came face to face with King Billy and the Pope.

Art attack

An enraged Glasgow councillor, Charles Forester, threw red paint over Innocent XI.

His companion Mary Ratcliffe slashed the canvas with a knife. Both were arrested and fined £65 when they appeared in court in Downpatrick.

The painting was restored for a cost of £32 and 10 shillings.

The authorities at Stormont decided it would be a wise move to shift it to a less exposed spot.

Its precise whereabouts inside Parliament Buildings were unknown from 1936 until 1975 when the picture was moved to the Belfast Public Record Office.

It went on public display there until 1983 when it was returned to the speaker's office at Stormont.

Art experts dispute whether the painting is the work of Pieter van der Meulen and whether the subject really is King William of Orange.

Public display

But the attack on the canvas has made it part of Stormont folklore.

Damian McCarney, who writes for Daily Ireland and the Andersonstown News recently had a private viewing.

In his opinion, "a reproduction of it doesn't do it justice".

"Whenever you first encounter the painting you are awe struck by the size of this epic tale unfolding in front of you," he said.

"So in a visual sense it deserves to be displayed.

"But I believe the story behind it will capture the imagination of a lot of people as well.

"Here's a painting which attracted controversy and was attacked for no justifiable reason.

"I think a lot of people can respond to that. It has echoes of the sectarian past and now we're coming to a more tolerant period in history now is the time for it to be restored to its rightful place in the southern corridors of the Stormont assembly."

IF Convenor

So Councillor Forester just happened to be carrying a pot of red paint during his visit? How bizarre.

wisnaeme · Re: king billy painting a mixed blessing

frank rizzo

Are the huns really so ignorant to believe the camp Dutchman was some religious saviour for freedom and liberty?
All the Boyne was about was ending French power and as the Pope of the day and William shared this common enemy, it was pretty clear they were allies and had no interest in Ireland, the Protestant faith or civil liberties. Religious leaders and monarchs are of the same, dubious stock.
William's personal Dutch Guard had many Catholics also and carried the Papal banner as they arrived on English soil.

And if King Billy loved Ulster so much, why, after the Battle of the Boyne, did he never step foot in the place again?

If only more of the Irish obsessed Scots paid a bit more attention to their own country's affairs and stopped making everything a 'green or orange' argument, we'd get on a lot better!

parkhead_rfb

frank rizzo

Homophobic coz I called him the camp dutchman? Ha! I was stating a fact. There are also many documents that he favoured men to women. If that offends you, I take it you take issue with all your fellow tims who constantly question his sexuality in a far more robust fashion.

Obviously taking their views from the rabidly homophobic RC Church.

ps - its 'you're' doing well.

parkhead_rfb

frank rizzo

'You're getting better'
It was your grammar I referred to. My spelling is shyte actually.

Lighten up man, I was joking.

Anyway, my point is valid, it wasn't homophobic unlike the many homophobic remarks I've heard from Celtic fans about said Monarch.

Take it you weren't one of the many Celtic fans that sang the homophobic Ian Durrant ditty RFB?

Beep, beep for the selective offended bus!

Cado

I think what this highlights is that the difference between the two communities is entirly brought about due to politics. Religion used to be the politics of the past.

The respective 'flocks' were the party membership, the churches the respective local party HQs and the preachers the equivelent of the MPs/MSPs/Councillors.

The upper echolons of the leadership of the various groups were no different than the upper echolons of todays political parties.

The difference then was that there was no democracy. If there had been democracy then we'd now be discussing whether to vote for the:

+ Catholic Party
+ The Prebyterian Party - these being the two main parties in Scotland
with the:
+ Free Presbyterian Party
+ The Methodist Party
+ The something or other Party (scottish equiv of anglicanism)

so on and so forth.

However there was no democracy back then, not because of religion, just the concept did not exist. The Roman Church was the political powerhouse of the time, those who did not wish to be part of this set up their own parties, with thier own outlook and their own doctrines.

If May fall flat on its face next year - then I wouldn't be surprised if in a few hundred years, at a football match somewhere we here of something like:

"The followers of the Labour religion and the Conservative religion have been clashing again over their respective communities beleifs in the nature and purpose of economic structure. Both keep refering to their sacred scriptures as spoken by their holy ones many moons in the past"

I can't beleive i'm even bothering to type this s**t.

Its all politics!!! They are just the hang over from the political parties of the past - the long ago past.

Everyone do everyone else a favour - abandon all of them, and then keep your beleifs to yourself and other like minded people.

parkhead_rfb

Blackadder

Of course, King "Billy" as he is affectionately remembered, was being advised by a Blackadder on the Inner Council. Bet you didn't know that!!!

Congal

King Billy,sailing into Torbay had on the masthead of his ship...'The Protestant Religion and The Liberties of England I Will Maintain' The 'I will Maintain' part I believe, was his own House of Orange motto. So I think that religion did play a part in it. The Pope did back him thats right,as he thought Louis of France was gettin to much power. He saw William as a counter to that power.

Elizabeth Villiers was said to be a mistress of William's. Lady Antonio Frazer [historian] dismissed the idea that he was a homo. But others said different.

Patrick Pearse was considered by many to be a homo. Certainly the way he talked, and his relationship with one boy in particular at his school gave some credence to this.

He also dressed up at times in female attire. Although he said it was for undercover work. Thing is,his sisters said he used to do the same when he was a young boy.

Blackadder

Do I detect the signs of homophobia on this thread???

My gay freinds do not like the appellation "homo" being used, since it has connotations of homophobia when it is used. They prefer "gay" by non-gay, straight people ... though amongst themselves it tends to be "poof" or "queer" ... and they don't like straight people calling them that either.

Just thought you should know. Or they'll be round to criticise your decor!!!

king billy painting a mixed blessing

Re: king billy painting a mixed blessing