Concourse of the Gods on Mount Olympus

The Dutch Golden Age was a period from 1581 to 1672, when the Netherlands experienced the "Dutch Miracle", transcended to the foremost maritime and economic power. In 1568, the Seven Provinces started a rebellion against Philip II of Spain, leading to the Eighty Years' War with Spain and the Thirty Years' War between other European superpowers. Protestants moved from the southern to the northern Netherlands, many settled in Amsterdam, transforming a port town into one of the most important commercial centers in the world by 1630. In addition to the migration of Protestants, there were also influxes of refugees who had previously fled from religious persecution, particularly Sephardi Jews from Portugal and Spain, and Protestants from France. Catholics moved in the other direction - to the southern provinces, modern Belgium. North quickly gained the highest literacy rates in Europe, an abundance of capital, the largest merchant fleet in Europe. The Dutch dominated trade in the Baltic Sea, between China and Japan, and with the English colonies in North America. The Dutch East India Company (VOC) was the first multinational corporation, financed by shares that established the first modern stock exchange. The Bank of Amsterdam, the first central bank, was established in 1609. The Dutch Golden Age is the art period dominanted by Rembrandt, Vermeer, Jacob van Ruisdael, and Frans Hals. Some notable artistic styles and trends include Haarlem Mannerism, Utrecht Caravaggism, the School of Delft, the Leiden fijnschilders, and Dutch classicism. 1672 is called a disaster year" when the Dutch Republic was attacked by England, France, Münster, and Bavaria. The invading armies quickly defeated most of the Dutch States Army and conquered part of the Republic.

Francesco Primaticcio was an Italian painter, sculptor and architect who worked at the court of King Francis I of France during the Renaissance. He was born in Bologna, Italy in 1504 and trained under Giulio Romano in Mantua. In 1532 he was invited to work at the royal palace of Fontainebleau, where he remained for the rest of his career. Primaticcio played a crucial role in the development of the French Renaissance style, which blended Italian and French artistic traditions. He worked on many important projects at Fontainebleau, including the decoration of the Gallery of Francis I with frescoes depicting scenes from classical mythology and the Bible. Primaticcio also designed and executed numerous sculptures and reliefs for the Royal Palace, including the famous Caryatids that adorn the entrance to the Chapel of Anne de Montmorency. He was also responsible for the design of several rooms in the palace, including the Ballroom and the Oval Room. In addition to his work at Fontainebleau, Primaticcio also worked as a painter and sculptor in other parts of France. He created altarpieces for churches in Paris and Lyon and designed tombs for members of the French nobility. Primaticcio died in Paris in 1570, leaving a legacy as one of the most important artists of the French Renaissance. His work at Fontainebleau helped to establish a new style that would influence French art for centuries to come.