Javanese painting by Tirto of Grisek depicting Surapati killing Captain Tack in Kartasura (1684) under Susuhunan Amangkurat II

François Tack was the leader of a V.O.C. delegation to Susuhunan Amangkurat II, ruler of the kingdom of Mataram, who held court in Kartasura. The aim of this mission was to make a settlement concerning the money the Susuhunan owed to the V.O.C and to ask for extradition of Surapati, a former Balinese slave, who raided the countryside south of Batavia and who had sought refuge at the court of Amangkurat II. The Dutch who thought of Surapati as a murderer, never succeeded to caputure him. The Javanese on the other hand thought of him as a warrior for freedom. The story of Surapati's life is told in the Javanese text Babad Kraton.

67 x 123cm (26 3/8 x 48 7/16in.)

Source: collectie.tropenmuseum.nl