Den geheymen minnaar. Blyspel - Questiers, Catharina; Vega, Lope de 1562-1635 (Amsterdam van Goedesberg, 1655)
Catharina Questiers (1631-1669) was a seventeenth-century poet and playwright. Together with Cornelia van der Veer (1639-?) and Katharyne Lescailje (1649-1711), she is considered one of the best-known and most successful poets of the second half of the seventeenth century. She also made her own engravings, accompanying her publications.
Between 1654 and 1663, her poems appeared in various anthologies. She also wrote three prose translations of Spanish plays. All three of these comedies were performed in the Amsterdam Schouwburg. 'Den geheymen minnaar' was the first play; 'Casimier of gedempte hoogmoet' the second, which was performed by Ariana Nozeman, the first female professional actor; and the third one 'd’Ondanckbare Fulvius en trouwe Octavia' was used for the opening of the new theatre in 1665.
'Den geheymen minnaar' was dedicated to Queen Christina of Sweden
Contains laudatory poems by Dirk Kalbergen, Jan van Dalen, J. Koenerding
Félix Lope de Vega y Carpio (1562-1635) was a celebrated playwright and poet. He is considered emblematic of the Golden Age of Spanish literature and one of the most prolific authors in world literature.
The title of Lope de Vega's play 'Amor secreto hasta celos' is written in ink on the title page (by a previous owner), while Questiers' adaptation is actually based on his 'Si no vieran las mujeres'.
Keywords: 17th Century (1601-1700); Play (theater); Poetry; Female; Fine art; Amsterdam (Netherlands)