Antique Print-SILVER LOCKS-Venne-Jacob Cats-1655

Subject: Plate: 'Afbeelding der Zilvre Sloten en Muyters ...' (Silver locks and clasps which decorated the books offered to H.J. Cats) This engraving shows the Last Judgement, Fight of life and Death, bubbles, tulips etc.

Condition: Fine, given age. Right edge uneven from binding. General age-related toning and/or occasional faint foxing. Please study scan carefully.

Medium: Etching / engraving on hand laid paper.

Size (in cm): The overall size is ca. 24.5 x 38.5 cm. The image size is ca. 13.5 x 20 cm.

Size (in inch): The overall size is ca. 9.6 x 15.2 inch. The image size is ca. 5.3 x 7.9 inch.

Part Number: 8564

Location: (PCO) A134-02

Description: This old antique engraved copperplate print and accompanying poetry originate from 'Alle de Wercken van den heere Jacob Cats.....', (Complete Works of Jacob Cats) which was published from 1655 on. This plate is from a 1726 edition. The emblems depict lessons of many aspects of life. Each emblem typically has more than one meaning as Cats' poems talk about ethics, wisdom and morale from the perspective of love, religion and society. His work has often been critisized, but contains a treasure of truth and symbolism, often as relevant as it was during the times of it's creation.

Artists and Engravers: The Author is Jacob Cats, also known as Father Cats (born Nov. 10, 1577, Brouwershaven, Zeeland, Spanish Netherlands - died Sept. 12, 1660, Zorgvliet, near The Hague) Dutch poet. A magistrate and high official, he was enormously popular as a writer of emblem books, consisting of woodcuts or engravings with verses possessing a moral. His Mirror of Old and New Times (1632) contains many quotations that have become household sayings in the Netherlands, and he used it to express the ethical concerns of Dutch Calvinists, especially about love and marriage. The famous poetry by Jacob Cats is often accompanied by well engraved images after the design of Adriaen van de Venne. Not all engravings have been signed, but engravers indicated include J. Swelinc, I. Matham, Wil. Hondius, C. v. Quiborne, D. v. Bremden & possibly others.