- Museum number
- 1868,0808.9693
- Title
-
Object: Vasten avonds Vreugde krans en Tooneel stuk
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Series: Het Grote Tafereel der Dwaasheid
- Description
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Satire on the financial crisis in 1720 with two plates one framing the other. In the centre, an etching showing a Cupid teaching a satyr to play the pan-pipes; they are watched by a a naked nymph peering from behind a tree with a bearded man at her side. Elements of the composition appear to have been added at a later stage: at top right, a winged monkey with human head blowing bellows in parody of a cupid on the left, a mask lying beside the satyr, in the middle of the right-hand side, the heads of two winds, and at the bottom, a fox with a builder's level and a cornucopia and a sculptural relief with two classical figures, on prone, one standing. The frame consists of strapwork peopled by callot figures: at the top, an elaborate pie topped by a cock in a cartouche with an owl's head at the top; to the left, a disconsolate dwarf looks at a halter beside which rests a book; to the right, a Spanish (?) dwarf, looks at a sausage beside which rests a mask. The strapwork on either side contains objects as follows: on the left, several fish, a tobacco pipe, a flask, a cheese board, a bunch of carrots; on the right, a pheasant, a guitar, a flageolet, a purse, playing-cards and dice and a drinking glass; at the bottom, a dwarf acrobat (the English posture master) stands on his hands with his legs bent over his head, beside him are two pedestals with reliefs of Heraclitus and Democritus, on top of that on the left is a snail and a sponge, and on the right a dish of flowers and fruit. Engraved Dutch titles, inscriptions, and verses.1721
Etching
- Production date
- 1720
- Dimensions
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Height: 297 millimetres (border etching)
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Height: 122 millimetres (centre etching)
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Width: 188 millimetres
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Width: 86 millimetres
- $Inscriptions
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- Curator's comments
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References in the verses to Law's flight to Venice in January 1721 indicate that the plate was made, or altered, after that date.
The plate with the Callot figures is a version of the 'Februarius' plate from "Il Callotto resuscitato, oder Neu eingerichtes Zerchen Cabinet", Augsburg, Engelbrecht, c.1710/1715.This border plate is published by Wilhelm Koningh in Amsterdam. It has been altered, the earlier version probably copying the Augsburg print more closely in having the pie balanced on the acrobat's shoulders; lettering at the foot of the olate has also been removed.
For the subject of Callot figures and the history of the above publication, see GG Bauer and Heinz Verfondern, Barocke Zwergenkarikaturen von Callot bis Chodowiecki, Salzburg 1991.
For a related print, see BM 1868-0808-9683.
Muller suggests that the centre plate is by Bernard Picart.
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One of a collection of prints bound together in two volumes c.1721 known as 'Het Groote Tafereel der Dwaasheid'; for more information, see 1868,0808.9602.
- Location
- Not on display
- Associated events
- Associated Event: Financial Bubble 1720
- Acquisition date
- 1868
- Department
- Prints and Drawings
- Registration number
- 1868,0808.9693
