Happy New Year all! A new year, a new book for this wonderful forum. This time a description of the world, written by Cornelius Hazart (1617 - 1690), a Jesuit priest. The book is called "Kerckelycke historie van de gheheele wereldt" (The Ecclesiastical History of the Whole World) and was published from 1667 to 1671 in Antwerp by Michiel Cnobbaert. The series contains 4 folio books. Unfortunately the 4th volume lacks in my collection and is really hard to find... Volume 1: Asia and the America's Volume 2: Southern en Central Africa, Germany and France Volume 3: Netherlands and England Volume 4: Turkiye, North Africa and Russia In these volumes there are more than hundred copper engravings. I just can post a few of them. I imagine often these are the only pictures a 17th century person did ever see about the rest of the world. The book is pure catholic propaganda of course from a Flemish Jesuit perspective. The frontispiece of the first volume. This page was designed by Abraham van Diepenbeecke (closely related to Peter Paul Rubens) and engraved by Adriaen Lommelin. The typographical title page of the first volume The 3 volumes are bound in nice, typical Dutch vellum bindings. The main feature of these books are many page sized copper engravings by many artists. There are portraits, pictures of people around the world in their traditional clothes and pictures of Catholic martyrs (lot's of torturing). Japan China Florida David, Emperor of Aethiopia Charles V, king of Spain Mary Stuart of Scotland Mass shooting in Canada
An impressive and beautiful start of 2026! Thank you and Gelukkig Nieuwjaar, EL. He was Charles V to us in the former Burgundian lands, but he was Charles I of Spain.
Putto/putti is usually reserved for wingless little boys in the world I inhabit. Ivory masters such as Duquesnoy loved them: Cupid (or in multiples, cupids) is conventionally depicted with feathered wings. Psyche (psyches) has butterfly wings, and a butterfly with Cupid can stand in for her. In practice her wings are often quite squared off, frequently with eye spots, looking to me more like moth wings. (John Gibson)
In my books I find many cupids, putti and psyches. Although they were used in the Baroque period the most. Peter Paul Rubens, Otto van Veen and Abraham van Diepenbeeck used them often in their art. I tried to select some. You can find them here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/SGbQRTDxAPeC4DKVA I am not sure if you can see them.
Thank you. Yes, I was able to see them. I suppose some of them would have to be seen as cherubim, but images like the top one of these 3 intrigue me. Although the word ψυχη had a somewhat different meaning to the Greeks than either psyche or soul do for us, she did become emblematic of soul/spirit in the way Christianity uses those words, so perhaps I should be less surprised by this little female figure turning up in ecclesiastic works. On the other hand, when paired with her, you pretty much have to see the guy with feathered wings as Cupid, and while she's associated with spiritual love, he represents physical passion, so maybe I should be more surprised to see him there. Then there's the third picture. Can you put that one in context? The bow on the ground next to him clearly indicates Cupid, yet there's a radiance around his head, as on Apollo, or Jesus. This time little Psyche also has feathered wings. They are warming themselves at a fire being fanned from the heavens (I'm gonna say heads with wings are cherubs.) All very allegorical, but I'm not quite sure what is being conveyed. Found this one among your other photos. Really love it: Everyone has Psyche wings, except for Tyche/Fortuna in her mural crown. This is the first time I have seen what appear to be genii (geniuses) in feminine form. The gal at lower right wears the helmet of Athena/Minerva, with the club of Herakles/Hercules on the ground next to her. Figures at upper right & lower left have tools associated with the Muse Urania & with geometry, literally measuring the earth. Can't make out what upper left is up to. And then there's a turnip in the middle of it all. I have one for you, from a book on the principles of geometry:
The third picture is from a book made by Otto van Veen, the teacher of Rubens. https://www.antiquers.com/threads/emblem-book-amoris-divini-emblemata-1660.79108/#post-9476075
The picture with the turnip surrounded by psyches is from a book about local law in Brabant and Flanders. Every chapter of these books have a similar picture, probably designed by Abraham van Diepenbeeck. This is the chapter of ‘s Hertogenbosch, the capital of my part of Brabant.
Ah, so although he is still styled as the Eros/Cupid of antiquity, he became Divine Love. Good to know if I see him again.
