Notes and Queries, Number 189, June 11, 1853: A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc.Various
History
Notes and Queries, Number 189, June 11, 1853: A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Genealogists, etc.
Various
Questions and answers -- Periodicals
It must be admitted that a comprehensive work on European Books of Emblems,
illustrated with fac-similes of the various engravings, &c., is a great
desideratum in modern literature. I feel highly flattered by the kind
commendations which MR. CORSER has bestowed upon my two small attempts
towards such a work, and by his encouraging me to proceed "to enlarge and
complete" the same. Now, I do not altogether despair of _enlarging_ it. But
when my excellent friend puts forward a proposal to _complete_ it, he
should be informed that my library alone contains nearly 250 volumes
strictly emblematical, and published during the sixteenth and seventeenth
centuries. By far the greater part of these are in Latin. To carry forward
a work of such magnitude to anything like _completion_ must therefore be
rather wished for than expected.
JOS. B. YATES.
West Dingle, near Liverpool.
Allow me to add the following to MR. CORSER'S list:
"The Christian's Divine Amusement, consisting of Emblems and
Hieroglyphicks on a great Variety of Subjects, Moral and Divine, in
four books. By the late Rev. Mr. J. Jones. Embellished with near 100
beautiful emblematical cuts, 12mo. pp. 191.: London, 1764."
I know not who the Rev. Mr. J. was, but his book is the old one of Francis
Quarles. The author, or rather adapter, attacks and demolishes the fable as
a method of instruction, and would substitute the emblems. In remodelling
Quarles, Mr. Jones makes the following alterations, or
improvements:--Instead of the Latin motto under each cut, he presents us
with four lines of English verse, which contain a general explanation of
the emblem. The page facing the cut he divides into two parts or sections
of odes and hymns suited to common psalmody, and the moral, or application,
also in a poetical dress.
A prose work belonging to the class under notice is an
"Emblematical Representation of the Paradise of God; showing the Nature
of Spiritual Industry, in the similitude of a Garden well ordered,
dressed, and kept. London, 1779."
The author of this was a visionary Scots gardener named Alexander Clark,
who had been favoured with a special manifestation of divine glory, "by
which," he says, "(to my own astonishment) I was enabled to see through
every profound passage of Scripture, and to spiritualise every material
thing;" but he belongs to my fanatical rather {581} than to my emblematical
shelf, and may be worth a separate Note hereafter.
Under the name of Farlie, or Fairlie, MR. CORSER mixes up the titles of two
distinct books; they are now before me, and divide themselves thus:
1. "Lychnocavsia, sive Moralia Facvm Emblemata. Light's Moral Emblems.
Authore Roberto Farlaeo, Scoto-Britanno. 12mo.: London, Th. Cotes for M.
Sparke, 1638."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account