Bilder Jacob Cats (1577–1660) – Frontispiece for the Marriage Ring – Etching (1653)

Beskrivning

"Proefsteen van den Trouwring" depicts an allegorical scene featuring a crowd gathered before a classical portico where a figure is seated upon a throne. In the heavens, several putti emerge from the clouds holding inscribed banners, while a central celestial light radiates downward toward the assembly below. The composition serves as the title page for the third part of a major literary work, utilizing dense figurative symbolism to represent moral and domestic themes. This etching was published in Amsterdam as part of a larger collection of the author’s moralistic emblems and poems. The work is a significant example of seventeenth-century Dutch book illustration, combining complex theological allegory with contemporary social commentary.

Jacob Cats was a highly influential Dutch poet, jurist, and politician who served as Grand Pensionary of Holland. He is best known for his didactic emblem books, which were immensely popular across all levels of Dutch society and earned him the nickname Father Cats. His writings focused on providing moral guidance on marriage, family life, and civic duty, often paired with sophisticated engravings to reinforce his lessons. Cats’ ability to blend popular wisdom with Calvinist morality made his works a staple of the Dutch household during the Golden Age. His literary legacy is inextricably linked to the visual culture of the Netherlands through the numerous high-quality illustrations commissioned for his publications.

Artist or Maker: Jacob Cats.

Dimensions: Approximately 39 cm x 25 cm.

Medium: Etching.

Date: 1653.

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.