Satirical Beaker

A large number of enameled German glasses have political themes. This is the only recorded example of an enameled glass lampooning Jean T'Serclaes, the count of Tilly, a capable military leader who, in the eyes of the Protestants, became a symbol for Catholic excesses during the Thirty Years' War. Dressed as a knight with a large barrel-like container on his back and a basket in one hand, Tilly is accompanied by a goat. Above the figure to the right is the personification of the wind, cloaked in dark clouds. The lengthy inscription refers to his disgrace and miserable wanderings with only an old goat for company. From out of Tilly's mouth come the words O miserere mei (Oh, take pity on me); the basket is inscribed Nimiae Exaction (Too great a punishment) and the barrel is inscribed Mea Constientia (My conscience). This highly unsympathetic view of Tilly shows that this beaker was painted by a Protestant enameler from northern Germany.