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Antrum Platonicum
Plato's Cave
Antrum Platonicum
Jan Saenredam (Dutch, 1565–1607)
After: Cornelis Cornelisz. van Haarlem (Dutch, 1562–1638)
Published by: Hendrik Hondius, the Elder (Dutch, 1573–1650)
After: Cornelis Cornelisz. van Haarlem (Dutch, 1562–1638)
Published by: Hendrik Hondius, the Elder (Dutch, 1573–1650)
Dutch
1604
Medium/Technique
Engraving
Dimensions
Height x width: 32.6 × 44.8 cm (12 13/16 × 17 5/8 in.)
Credit Line
Katherine E. Bullard Fund in memory of Francis Bullard
Accession Number2020.327
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsEurope, Prints and Drawings
ClassificationsPrints
Catalogue Raisonné
Bartsch 039; Hollstein 116, ii
Signed
Lower right, in plate: C.C. Harlemensis Inv. / I. Saenredam Sculpsit / Henr. Hondius excudit
Marks
Watermark: Grape with fleurs-de-lis
InscriptionsIn image, upper center: ANTRVM PLATONICVM
Above image, in plate: LVX VENIT IN MVNDVN [sic] ET DILEXERVNT HOMINES MAGUS TENEBRAS QVAM LVCEM IO.3.19
Below image, left to right, in calligraphic script: Maxima pars homnium cecis immerse tenebris. / Volvitur assidue, et studio letatur inani: / Adspice ut obiectis obtutus in bereat umbris, / Ut VERI simulacra omnes mirentur amentq[uae], /
Et stolidi vana ludantur imagine rerum. / Quam pauci meliore luto, qui in lumine puro / Secreti a stolida turba, ludibria cernunt / Rerum umbras rectaq[ue] expendunt omnia lance: /
Hi posita erroris nebula dignoscere possunt / Vera bona, atque alios ceca sub nocte latentes / extrahere in claram lucem conantur, at illis / Nullus amor lucis, tanta estrationis egestas.
C.C. Harlemensis Inv. / I. Saenredam Sculpsit / Henr. Hondius excudit / 1604.
Below image, across bottom: H. L. SPIEGEL FIGVRARI ET SCVLPI CVRAVIT AC DOCTISS[IM]O ORNATISS[IM]O Q D.PET.PAAW IN LVGDVN. ACAD. PROFESSORI MEDICO D.D.
Above image, in plate: LVX VENIT IN MVNDVN [sic] ET DILEXERVNT HOMINES MAGUS TENEBRAS QVAM LVCEM IO.3.19
Below image, left to right, in calligraphic script: Maxima pars homnium cecis immerse tenebris. / Volvitur assidue, et studio letatur inani: / Adspice ut obiectis obtutus in bereat umbris, / Ut VERI simulacra omnes mirentur amentq[uae], /
Et stolidi vana ludantur imagine rerum. / Quam pauci meliore luto, qui in lumine puro / Secreti a stolida turba, ludibria cernunt / Rerum umbras rectaq[ue] expendunt omnia lance: /
Hi posita erroris nebula dignoscere possunt / Vera bona, atque alios ceca sub nocte latentes / extrahere in claram lucem conantur, at illis / Nullus amor lucis, tanta estrationis egestas.
C.C. Harlemensis Inv. / I. Saenredam Sculpsit / Henr. Hondius excudit / 1604.
Below image, across bottom: H. L. SPIEGEL FIGVRARI ET SCVLPI CVRAVIT AC DOCTISS[IM]O ORNATISS[IM]O Q D.PET.PAAW IN LVGDVN. ACAD. PROFESSORI MEDICO D.D.
Provenance2019, sold from an unidentified private collection, Amsterdam, to Nicolaas Teeuwisse (dealer), Berlin; 2020, sold by Teeuwisse to the MFA. (Accession Date: October 7, 2020)