Brieven der gemartelde apostelen - Bidloo, Govert 1649-1713; Hooghe, Romeyn de 1645-1708 (Amsterdam Visser, 1712)
Reissued several times before Bidloo’s death, the text and plates depict the author’s warning against the seducing power of good food, wine, and other earthly delights. Gruesome suffering shown includes stoning, quartering, beating, burning, and other bodily tortures endured by these saints, as necessary preparation for the next world.
Dramatic engravings of a martyred woman (title page) and the martyred Apostels. Although the plates are not signed, several sources attribute the engravings to the gifted and socially well connected artist, Romeyn de Hooghe (1645–1708). There might have been dissatisfaction with the result because Bidloo writes elsewhere about the artist’s incompetence* and later, the plates for Bidloo’s monumental 'Anatomia humani corporis' (Amsterdam, 1685) were drawn by Gérard de Lairesse (1640–1711), and engraved by Abraham Blooteling (1640–1690) and Peter van Gunst (1659?–1724?).
Bound in with 'Mengel poëzy'
Originally published in 1675
Keywords: 17th Century (1601-1700); 18th Century (1701-1800); Religion; Netherlands; Venetië