Ancient engravings Jacob Cats 1

The Author is Jacob Cats, also known as Father Cats (born Nov. 10, 1577, Brouwershaven, Zeeland, Spanish Netherlands - died Sept. 12, 1660, Zorgvliet, near The Hague) Dutch poet. A magistrate and high official, he was enormously popular as a writer of emblem books, consisting of woodcuts or engravings with verses possessing a moral. His Mirror of Old and New Times (1632) contains many quotations that have become household sayings in the Netherlands, and he used it to express the ethical concerns of Dutch Calvinists, especially about love and marriage. The famous poetry by Jacob Cats is often accompanied by well engraved images after the design of Adriaen van de Venne. Not all engravings have been signed, but engravers indicated include J. Swelinc, I. Matham, Wil. Hondius, C. v. Quiborne, D. v. Bremden & possibly others. This particular portrait was engraved by Michael Natalis after Dubordieu.

These old antique engraved copperplate prints and accompanying poetry originate from 'Alle de Wercken van den heere Jacob Cats.....', (Complete Works of Jacob Cats) which was published from 1655 on.