Plato's Cave

Jan Saenredam (Dutch, 1565–1607)

Cornelis Cornelisz. van Haarlem (Dutch, 1562–1638)

Hendrik Hondius, the Elder (Dutch, 1573–1650)

1604

Medium/TechniqueEngraving

DimensionsHeight x width: 32.6 × 44.8 cm (12 13/16 × 17 5/8 in.)

Credit LineKatherine E. Bullard Fund in memory of Francis Bullard

Accession number2020.327

On View

Not on view

ClassificationsPrints

Collections

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.

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)