(Amsterdam 1585 – The Hague 1653)
Adriaan Pauw was a member of the club of shareholders who financed the painting. In 1632 he asked the Landscape Board of Drenthe to appoint him Lord of Hoogersmilde. In 1634 he received that appointment. He did not come to Drenthe himself, but sent his steward. He himself probably never visited Hoogersmilde, but appointed a schulte as his deputy. As Lord, he had to exercise civil and criminal justice, settle disputes between the inhabitants and punish transgressions. The money from the fines was his. It didn’t make him rich, but the honor was more important to him, including looking after family interests.
The highlight of his political career came in 1646 when he led the delegation on behalf of the States General to the peace talks in Münster in order to reach peace with the Spaniards there. Here the independence of the Republic of the United Netherlands in 1648 gained international recognition.
Pauw’s motto ‘Patientia, pietate et pace’ (through patience, piety and peace), at the same time his calling card and his programme, found its crowning glory in Münster.
Read on after the photos of the first sketches of the weapon: