Again using Brueghel’s painting as a point of departure, this section concentrates on court festivities and court life in general, including the birds in the archducal aviary – which will be seen again under Smell as part of the archducal gardens – whose song added lustre to the park of Brussels, and the dogs whose baying announced the hunt.

The most important pieces here are: Frans II Francken and Frans Pourbus the Younger’s, Ball at the Archdukes’ Court in Brussels (The Hague, Mauritshuis), Frans II Pourbus (following?), The Infanta Isabella with a Dwarf (London, Royal Collections, Hampton Court) and the anonymous Dona Juana de Lunar and the Infant’s Dogs (Brussels, KMSK).With the mannerist train of thought in mind, the section on Hearing develops from a purely physical sensation to an allegorical significance, namely Justice as part of the image of the ideal prince, who strives for harmony in the society which he leads. The organisation of the Court is then a reflection of the harmony of society.

The link between the two parts is the Orpheus of Jan I Brueghel (Rome, Galleria Borghese). Just as Orpheus through his music calmed the animals, tamed nature and brought human feelings to gentleness, the Prince with Christian justice and mercy (justitia and clementia) as his instruments must bring perfect harmony to society. Mercy is represented by, among other pieces, Antoon Sallaert’s The Archdukes in the Procession of the Virgins on the Zavel (Brussels, KMSK), Justice by various legal codes.