Abraham de Aartsvader, in XII boeken - Hoogvliet, Arnold 1687-1763; Punt, Jan 1711-1779 (Rotterdam Beman, 1746)
Originally published in 1728
Epic poem on the Arch Father Abraham in 12 books
The Dutch author Arnold Hoogvliet, 1687-1763, is among Dutch classicists known for his translation of Ovid's Fasti, which was published in 1719. This translation was greeted with enthousiasm by his contemporaries. After this success he had to promise his dying father, that he would, after this work full of heathen worship, write a work full of christian virtues. The execution of this promise, 'Abraham, de Aartsvader', written in rhyming iambic trimeters, was first published in 1728, and made his name. It is considered to be the greatest epic of 18th century Dutch literature. It was reissued in the 18th century 13 times. Hoogvliet was considered one of the great Dutch poets of his age.
The portrait of Arnold Hoogvliet - in oval frame, surrounded with putti, instruments and books and with a text of Joan Vermeulen - dated 1745, is made after a lost painting of the Dutch artist Dionys van Nijmegen, and is executed by J. Houbraken.
Frontispiece after Jan Wandelaar depicts Abraham together with Fides (True Faith) before an altar on which a goat is being burned; Fides' offer helps Abraham to conquer Vice; Obedience, depicted as a yoked woman, binds wings to Abraham's feet, to help him accept the yoke of Virtue; Abraham holds with his right hand 3 chained figures, Instability, Idolatry and Vanity.
Engraved printer's mark on the title page, depicting Athena, who rests on a pile of books; at her feet a putto reading a book
Keywords: 18th Century (1701-1800); Religion; Poetry; Fine art; Netherlands