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Spieghel der Schrijfkonste
Calligrapher: Jan van den Velde (Netherlandish, 1568–1623)
Engraver: Simon Wynouts Frisius (Netherlandish, about 1580–1629)
Engraver: Jacob Matham (Netherlandish, 1571–1631)
After: Karel van Mander (Netherlandish, 1548–1606)
Publisher: Willem Jansz. Blaeu (Dutch, 1571–1638)
Engraver: Simon Wynouts Frisius (Netherlandish, about 1580–1629)
Engraver: Jacob Matham (Netherlandish, 1571–1631)
After: Karel van Mander (Netherlandish, 1548–1606)
Publisher: Willem Jansz. Blaeu (Dutch, 1571–1638)
about 1609
Place of Publication: Amsterdam?, Netherlands
Medium/Technique
Illustrated book with engraved title page, engraved portrait, and 73 engravings
Dimensions
Overall: 22.6 x 33.8 x 3.4 cm (8 7/8 x 13 5/16 x 1 5/16 in.)
Credit Line
William A. Sargent Fund
Accession Number1985.241
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsEurope, Prints and Drawings
ClassificationsIllustrated books
Amsterdam?: Willem Jansz. Blaeu?, about 1609
Catalogue Raisonné
Bonacini 1931; Berlin 5010-12; Hollstein, Dutch and Flemish, VII, p. 21, no. 30; Becker 100
Description(Amsterdam?: Willem Jansz. Blaeu?, about 1609) Oblong folio; 84 leaves; modern vellum, orange-brown cloth box.
Allegorical title page, author portrait, engraved writing samples
First published in Rotterdam by Jan van Waesberghe in 1605, there were later reprints and French and Latin editions. The plates were later taken over sucessively by Cornelisz. Claes and Willem Jansz. Blaeu, the latter by 1609. The presence in the MFA copy of two plates dated 1609 and a French sample ("Denonce à ceux qui sont riches") cited by Croiset van Uchelen as having been added by Blaeu argue for this copy to be dated 1609, or possibly later (but before 1615, per the inscription on leaf before title). This copy has also been rebound, and perhaps has had plates inserted from other copies.
The writing samples were engraved by Frisius. The title page was designed by van Mander and engraved by Jacob Matham, who also designed and engraved the author portrait.
The makeup of the volume is roughly as follows: Engraved title page; portrait of the author/artist designed and engraved by Matham, 7 ff. letterpress text, 34 engraved samples; (Part 2) 4 ff. letterpress (THRESOR LITERAIRE), 22 engraved samples; (Part 3) 20 ff. text (FONDEMENT-BOECK, with engraved samples printed on text leaves). [Note: the letterpress, esp. the Fondement-boeck, seems to be from the original van Waesberghe edition--his printer's mark is on fol. I2v.]
Allegorical title page, author portrait, engraved writing samples
First published in Rotterdam by Jan van Waesberghe in 1605, there were later reprints and French and Latin editions. The plates were later taken over sucessively by Cornelisz. Claes and Willem Jansz. Blaeu, the latter by 1609. The presence in the MFA copy of two plates dated 1609 and a French sample ("Denonce à ceux qui sont riches") cited by Croiset van Uchelen as having been added by Blaeu argue for this copy to be dated 1609, or possibly later (but before 1615, per the inscription on leaf before title). This copy has also been rebound, and perhaps has had plates inserted from other copies.
The writing samples were engraved by Frisius. The title page was designed by van Mander and engraved by Jacob Matham, who also designed and engraved the author portrait.
The makeup of the volume is roughly as follows: Engraved title page; portrait of the author/artist designed and engraved by Matham, 7 ff. letterpress text, 34 engraved samples; (Part 2) 4 ff. letterpress (THRESOR LITERAIRE), 22 engraved samples; (Part 3) 20 ff. text (FONDEMENT-BOECK, with engraved samples printed on text leaves). [Note: the letterpress, esp. the Fondement-boeck, seems to be from the original van Waesberghe edition--his printer's mark is on fol. I2v.]
ProvenanceMatthijs van Beynhem (1615); Rudolf Hugo Driesen/Caroline E.F. Kleyn; E.P. Goldschmidt, London, from whom purchased by MFA, May 22, 1985.