Emblemata of Zinne-werck.Amsterdam, Ian Evertsen Kloppenburch, 1624

LIVELY DEPICTIONS OF EVERYDAY LIFE

Fine engraved title-page and 51 emblems engraved by Wil. Passe, J. Gelle, Cri. Blon, A. Poel and J.S. [Swelinck] mostly after A. van de Venne.

4to(220 x 165mm). [10], 360pp. Contemporary vellum over pasteboard (lightly soiled).

Amsterdam, Ian Evertsen Kloppenburch, 1624

First edition of this charming and enduring emblem book noted by Praz and others for its realistic emblems which form a counterpoint to the genre painting of the Dutch Golden Age and supply interesting evidence for the history of costume. The designer of the emblems, Adriaen van der Venne was a painter, engraver and poet renowned for his lively and colourful depictions of everyday life of all classes of society.

Von Monroy praises the "unusually valuable illustrations" in which the emblematic character is often hidden in an almost invisible small detail to which the inscriptio and a long explanatory text in rhyme (sometimes in French or Latin) and prose. He also takes the example of the emblem of the blind beggar (emblem XXI, p.153, "Man is blind, in what he loves") and describes the iconographic influence on Rembrandts' 1631 etching The Blind Fiddler (B.138), and the shift of the concept of art from denoting something different from what is depicted (emblem) to pure manifestation of a concrete existence as in Rembrandt's etching.

In this work and others the Calvinist Johan de Brune (1588-1658) aimed at establishing moral standards for the recently founded Dutch Republic.

Provenance: Some neat early underlining and a few marginal notes. Ink inscription at foot of title-page of ?Van Ravenman, Amsterdam, 1849. Book label on rear pastedown of Dr. Peter Jörg Becker (1938-2020), manuscript librarian at the Berlin Staatsbibliothek.

Generally in very good condition with engravings in strong impressions. Small abrasion to engraving on p. 17, occasional very light dampstaining and finger soiling. Lacks front free-endpaper.

Praz, p. 288. Landwehr, Low Countries, no.86. Ref: E.F. von Monroy, Embleme und Emblembücher in den Niederlanden 1560-1630, pp. 62-64.

Stock Code: 244543