"FEELING OR PAIN"

An expert in the old language, Mr. James S. Holmes, gave the following explanation and translation of the verse  below the artwork:

-----8-----

At the time this art was produced Philip IV was King of the Spanish Empire, which spread over most of the Americas and a great part of Europe. The Netherlands, where this art originated, was ruled by Spain as a Spanish Province. It was in a continuous state of rebellion against Spanish rule from 1570 until it obtained independence in 1648. Dutch--Low German-- was the language of these provinces, the same as the legend under the artwork.

Charles I was King of England. He was trapped in a life and death struggle with Parliament and Oliver Cromwell. Charles was destined to lose the contest, and his head.

Louis XIII was King of France. He and France were dominated during most of his rule by Cardinal Richelieu.

Germany and other Central Europe states were joined into an empire: The Holy Roman Empire, ruled by the Hapsburgs.

Gustavus Adolphus was the great conquering warrior of Sweden, whose empire made the Baltic a Swedish Lake; he eventually lost his life in a battle with the Polish Army.

WHAT HAS ALL THIS TO DO WITH DENTISTRY? NOTHING, except it is significant that the Artist selected Dentistry to illustrate FEELING OR PAIN :)

(* All of these created a desire to place this art and the artist in perspective with the personalities and happenings that influenced the world around them.)