Introduction
Posted on 28th March 2008 by Lochithea || Comments welcome
Emblem literature may be said to have had its origin with Andrea Alciat, the celebrated Italian jurisconsult, who was famous for his great knowledge and power of mind. In 1522 he published at Milan an Emblematum Libellus, or Little Book of Emblems. Green says: “It established, if it did not introduce, a new style of emblem literature, the classical in the place of the simply grotesque and humorous, or of the heraldic and mythic.” The first edition now known to exist was published at Augsburg in 1531, a small octavo containing eighty-eight pages with ninety-seven emblems, and as many woodcuts. It was from time to time augmented, and passed through many editions.
For some years the Emblemata appears to have been produced chiefly by Italians, with a few Frenchmen. Until the last half of the sixteenth century the output of books of this character was not large. Thenceforth for the next hundred years the creation of emblems became a popular form of literary exercise. The Italians continued to be prolific, but Dutch, French, and German scholars were but little behind them. There were a few Englishmen and Spaniards who also practised the art.
Facts
In 1905 was published a book called Letters from the Dead to the Dead, by Oliver Lector. In it attention is drawn to the remarkable features of some of the books on emblems printed during Bacon’s life, and to the evidence that he was in some manner connected with the publication of many of these volumes. The author claims this to be especially the case with the Emblemata Moralia et Bellica, 1615, of Jacob de Bruck, of Angermundt, and the Emblemata Ethic Politica of J. Bornitius.
The emblem pictures for the most part appear to be picture puzzles. In the Critique upon the Mythology of the Ancients Bacon says: “It may pass for a farther indication of a concealed and secret meaning, that some of these fables are so absurd and idle in their narration as to proclaim and shew an allegory afar off. A fable that carries probability with it may be supposed invented for pleasure, or in imitation of history; but, those that would never be conceived or related in this way, must surely have a different use.”
If this line of reasoning be applied to the illustration in the emblem books, it is clear that they conceal some hidden meaning, for they are apparently unintelligible, and the accompanying letterpress does not afford any illumination.
Alciat's Emblems
The first volume of Emblemata in which traces of Bacon’s hand are to be found is the 1577 edition of Alciat’s Emblems, published by the Platin Press, with notes by Claude Mignault. It is in this edition, in Emblem No. 45, In dies meliora, that for the first time the light A and the dark A is to be found. In previous editions this device is absent. For this volume a new design has been engraved in which it appears.
On Emblems
Embleme deduceth conceptions intellectual to images sensible, and that which is sensible more forcibly strikes the memory, and is more easily imprinted than that which is intellectual.
- - Francis Bacon: Advancement of Learning, bk. v. chap. 5
Some Examples
- In the emblem books written in Italian Bacon does not appear to have been concerned, unless an exception be made of Ripa’s Iconologia, a copy of which contains his handwriting and initials. In some way he had control of a large number of those written in Latin, and bearing names of Dutch, French, and some Italian authors, and also of several written in Dutch and of the English writers. The field is a very wide one, and only a few of the principal examples can be mentioned.
- The most important work is the Emblemata Moralia et Bellica of Jacob à Bruck, of Angermundt, 1615. Argentorati per Jacobum ab Heyden. With many of the designs in this volume Oliver Lector has dealt fully in Letters from the Dead to the Dead, before referred to. There is another volume bearing the name of Jacob à Bruck, published in 1598. Only one copy of this book is known to be in existence, and that is in the Royal Library of St. Petersburg.
- Bernard Quaritch, 1905: “The Emblemata Ethico Politica of Jacobus Bornitius, 1659, Moguntiæ, is remarkable because many of the engravings contain portraits of Bacon, namely, in Sylloge Prima, Plates Nos. vii., xxiii., xliv., xlv., xlvix.; and in Sylloge II., Plates ix. and xxxvi. Oliver Lector says: “I have not met with an earlier edition of Bornitius than 1659. My conjecture, however is that the manuscript came into the hands of Gruter with other of Bacon’s published by him in the year 1653.”
Additional Reading
There are two productions of Janus Jacobus Boissardus in which Bacon’s hand may be recognised: Emblèmes Latines avec l’Interprétation Françoise du I. Pierre Ioly Messin. Metis, 1588, and Emblematum liber. Ipsa Emblemata ab Auctore delineata: a Theodoro de Bry sculpta et nunc recens in lucem edita, 1593, Frankfurt. Two editions of the latter were printed in the same year. The title-pages are identical, and the same plates have been used throughout, but the letterpress is in Latin in the one, and in French in the other. In both, the dedications are addressed in French to Madame de Clervent, Baronne de Coppet, etc. The dedication of the former bears the name Jan Jacques Boissard at the head, and addresses the lady as que come estes addonnée à la speculation des choses qui appartiennent à l’instruction de l’âme. The dedication of the latter is signed Ioly, who explains that he has translated the verses into French, so that they may be of more service to the dedicatee.
List of English Writers of Books of Emblems
A. (H.) Parthenia Sacra, of the Mysterious and Delicious Garden of the Sacred Parthenis: Symbolically set forth and enriched with Pious Devises and Emblems for the entertainment of devout Soules, &c. By H. A. Plates. 8vo. Printed by John Cousturier, 1633.
Abricht (John A. M.). Divine Emblems. Embellished with Etchings of Copper after the fashion of Master Francis Quarles. 12mo. Lond. 1838.
Arwaker (Edmund). Pia Desideria, or Divine Addresses in Three Books. With 47 Copper Plates by Sturt. 8vo. Lond. 1686.
Ashrea: or the Grove of Beatitudes. Represented in Emblemes: and by the Art of Memory to be read on our Blessed Saviour Crucified, &c. 12mo. Lond. 1665.
Astry (Sir James). The Royal Politician represented in One Hundred Emblems. Written in Spanish by Don Diego Saavedra Faxardo, &c. Done into English from the Original. By Sir James Astry. In Two Vols. With Portrait of William Duke of Gloucester, and other Plates. 8vo. Lond. 1700. Printed for Matthew Gylliflower.
Ayres (Philip). Emblemata Amatoria. Emblems of Love in Four Languages. Dedicated to the Ladys. By Ph. Ayres, Esq. With 44 Plates on Copper. 8vo. Lond. 1683.
Barclay (Alexander). The Ship of Fooles, wherein is shewed the folly of all States, &c. Translated out of Latin into Englishe. With numerous Woodcuts. Imprinted by John Cawood. Folio, bl. letter, Lond. 1570.
Blount (Thomas). The Art of making Devises: treating of Hieroglyphicks, Symboles, Emblemes, Ænigmas, &c. Translated from the French of Henry Estienne. 4to. Lond. 1646.
Bunyan (John). Emblems by J. Bunyan. [I have not seen this work, but suspect it is only a common chap-book. A copy was in one of Lilly's Catalogues.]
Burton (R.). Choice Emblems, Divine and Moral, Ancient and Modern; or Delights for the Ingenious in above Fifty Select Emblems, Curiously Ingraven upon Copper Plates. With engraved Frontispiece, &c. 12mo. Lond. 1721. Printed for Edmund Parker.
Castanoza (John). The Spiritual Conflict, or The Arraignment of the Spirit of Selfe-Love and Sensuality at the Barre of Truth and Reason. First published in Spanish by the Reverend Father John Castanoza, afterwards put into the Latin, Italian, German, French, and English Languages. With numerous Engravings. 12mo. at Paris, 1652.
Choice Emblems, Natural, Historical, Fabulous, Moral, and Divine. 12mo. Lond. 1772.
Colman (W.). La Dance Machabre, or Death's Duell, by W. C. With engraved Frontispiece by Cecil, and Plate. 8vo. Lond. 163—.
Compendious Emblematist; or Writing and Drawing made easy. With many Plates. 4to. Lond.
Emblems Divine, Moral, Natural, and Historical, Expressed in Sculpture, and applied to the several Ages, Occasions, and Conditions of the Life of Man. By a Person of Quality. With Woodcut Engravings and Metrical Illustrations. 8vo. Lond. 1673. Printed by J. C. for Will. Miller.
Emblems for the Entertainment and Improvement of Youth, with Explanations, on 62 Copper Plates. White Knights. 8vo. n. d., Part I.
Emblems of Mortality. With Holbein's Cuts of the Dance of Death, modernized and engraved by Bewick. Three Editions. 8vo. Lond. 1789.
Farlie (Robert). Lychnocausia, sive Moralia Facum Emblemata. Lights Morall Emblems. Kalendarium {471} Humanæ Vitæ. The Kalendar of Man's Life. With Frontispiece and numerous Woodcuts. 8vo. Lond. 1638.
Fransi (Abrahami). Insignium Armorum Emblematum Hieroglyphicorum et Symbolorum Explicatio. No Plates. 4to. Lond. 1588.
G. (H.). The Mirrour of Majestie: or the Badges of Honour conceitedly emblazoned. With Emblems annexed. 4to. 1618. [This is the rarest of the English series; only two copies known, one perfect penes me, and another imperfect.]
Gent (Thomas). Divine Entertainments; of Penitential Desires, Sighs, and Groans of the Wounded Soul. In Two Books, adorned with suitable Cuts. In Verse. With numerous Woodcuts. 12mo. Lond. 1724.
Hall (John). Emblems, with elegant Figures newly published. Sparkles of Divine Love. Engraved Frontispiece and Plates. 12mo. Lond. 1648.
Heywood (Thomas). Pleasant Dialogues and Dramas, selected out of Lucian, &c. With sundry Emblems, extracted from the most elegant Iacobus Catsius, &c. 8vo. Lond. 1637. No Plates.
Jenner (Thomas). The Soules Solace; or Thirtie and one Spirituall Emblems. With Plates on Copper, and Verses. 4to. Lond. 1631.
The Ages of Sin, of Sinnes Birth and Growth. With the Steppes and Degrees of Sin, from Thought to finall Impenitence. Nine leaves containing nine emblematical engravings, each with six metrical lines beneath. 4to. No printer's name, place, or date.
A Work for none but Angels and Men, that is, to be able to look into, and to know themselves, &c. It contains eight Engravings emblematic of the Senses, and is in fact Sir John Davis's poem on the Immortality of the Soul turned into prose. 4to. Lond. 1650. Printed by M. S. for Thomas Jenner.
Wonderful and Strange Punishments inflicted on the Breakers of the Ten Commandments. With curious Plates. 4to. Lond. 1650.
Montenay (Georgette de). A Booke of Armes, or Remembrance: wherein are a hundred Godly Emblemata; first invented and elaborated in the French Tongue, but now in severall Languages. With Plates. 8vo. Franckfort. 1619.
Murray (Rev. T. B.). An Alphabet of Emblems. With neatly executed Woodcuts. 12mo. Lond. 1844.
Peacham (Henry). Minerva Britannia, or, A Garden of Heroickall Devises, furnished and adorned with Emblemes and Impressas, &c. Numerous Woodcuts. 4to. Lond. n. d. (1612.)
Protestant's (The) Vade Mecum, or Popery Displayed in its proper Colours, in Thirty Emblems, lively representing all the Jesuitical Plots against this Nation. With thirty engraved Emblems on copper. 8vo. Lond. 1680. Printed for Daniel Brown.
Quarles (Francis). Emblemes by Fra. Quarles. The First Edition. With Plates by W. Marshall and others. Rare. 8vo. Lond. 1635. Printed by G. M. at John Marriott's.
Hieroglyphickes of the Life of Man, by Fra. Quarles. In a Series of engraved Emblems on Copper by Will. Marshall. With Verses. 8vo. Lond. 1638. Printed by M. Flesher.
Richardson (George). Iconology; or a Collection of Emblematical Figures, Moral and Instructive. In Two Volumes. With Plates. 4to. Lond. 1777-79.
Riley (George). Emblems for Youth. Reprinted in 1775, and again in 1779. 12mo. Lond. 1772.
Ripa (Cæsar). Iconologia; or Morall Emblems. Wherein are express'd various Images of Virtues, Vices, &c. Illustrated with 326 Human Figures engraved on Copper. By the care and charge of P. Tempest. 4to. Lond. 1709.
S. (P.) The Heroical Devises of M. Claudius Paradin, Canon of Beauvieu. Whereunto are added the Lord Gabriel Symons and others. Translated out of Latin into English by P. S. With Woodcuts. 16mo. Lond. 1591. Imprinted by William Kearney.
Stirry (Thomas). A Rot among the Bishops, or a terrible Tempest in the Sea of Canterbury, a Poem with lively Emblems. A Satire against Archbishop Laud. With Four Wood Engravings. Rare. 8vo. Lond. 1641.
Thurston (J.). Religious Emblems; being a Series of Engravings on Wood, from the Designs of J. Thurston, with Descriptions by the Rev. J. Thomas. 4to. Lond. 1810.
Vicars (John). A Sight of ye Transactions of these latter Yeares Emblemized with engraven Plates, which men may read without Spectacles. Collected by John Vicars. With Engravings of Copper. 4to. Lond. n. d., are to be sould by Thomas Jenner at his shop.
Prodigies and Apparitions, or England's Warning Pieces. Being a seasonable Description by lively figures and apt illustrations of many remarkable and prodigious forerunners and apparent Predictions of God's Wrath against England, if not timely prevented by true Repentance. Written by J. V. With curious Frontispiece and six other Plates. 8vo. Lond. n. d., are to bee sould by Tho. Bates.
Whitney (Geoffrey). A Choice of Emblems and other Devises. Englished and Moralized by Geoffrey Whitney. With numerous Woodcuts. 4to. Leyden, 1586. Imprinted at Leyden in the house of Christopher, by Grancis Raphalengius.
Willet (Andrew). Sacrorum Emblematum Centuria Una quæ tam ad exemplum aptè expressa sunt, &c. No Plates. 4to. Cantabr. n. d. (1598.)
Wither (George). A Collection of Emblems, Ancient and Moderne: Quickened with Metricall Illustrations both Morall and Divine. The Plates, 200 in number, were engraved by Crispin Pass. Folio, Lond. 1635. Printed by A. M. for Henry Taunton.
Wynne (John Huddlestone). Choice Emblems for the Improvement of Youth. Plates. 12mo. Lond. 1772