Bilder Jacob Cats (1577–1660) – Strong legs to carry wealthy days – engraving (1632)

Beskrivning

This engraving features a circular emblem depicting a man in elaborate seventeenth-century attire carrying another figure on his back, set within an open landscape with a small dog and distant figures. The scene is an allegorical representation of the burdens and responsibilities that accompany prosperity and health, as suggested by the Dutch title t' Zijn stercke beenen die weelde dragen konnen. The work was published as part of Spiegel van den Ouden en Nieuwen Tijdt, a significant emblem book that utilized proverbs and everyday situations to provide moral and ethical instruction. These emblems were designed to combine visual pleasure with deep cultural and religious lessons, reflecting the societal values of the Dutch Golden Age.

Jacob Cats was a renowned Dutch poet, jurist, and politician who remains one of the most prominent figures of the Dutch Golden Age. Often referred to as Vader Cats, he was celebrated for his moralistic poetry and emblem books, which were found in nearly every Dutch household alongside the Bible. Cats served in several high-ranking political offices, including Grand Pensionary of Holland, and his literary work focused heavily on domestic life, marriage, and Christian virtues. His ability to distill complex ethical lessons into accessible visual and poetic forms made him a defining moral authority of his era and a central figure in the development of Dutch national literature.

Artist or Maker: Jacob Cats and Adriaen van de Venne.

Dimensions: Approximately 25 cm x 17 cm.

Medium: engraving.

Date: 1632.

Condition Report:
This work is in good condition overall. There may be a few minor imperfections or fox or mottled marks to be expected with age. Please review the images carefully for condition details, and feel free to contact us with any questions or for a comprehensive condition report.