Poets 17th century
Zhū Dā (Chinese: 朱耷) was a Chinese painter, poet and calligrapher of the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. Known by the pseudonym Bada Shanzhen (Chinese: 八大山人), the man from Mount Bada.
Bada Shanren belonged to the imperial family of the Ming Dynasty, but chose to become a Buddhist monk and led a reclusive lifestyle. His artistic style was characterised by a unique combination of traditional Chinese ink painting techniques and bold, expressive brushstrokes. Bada Shanren's works often depicted landscapes, birds, flowers and animals, demonstrating an exceptional ability to convey the essence of the natural world. His paintings reflected a sense of spiritual introspection and a deep connection to nature. Despite the turbulent times in which he lived, Bada Shanren's artistic legacy remains highly regarded and his works are still considered masterpieces of Chinese ink painting.
Juana Inés de la Cruz or Juana of Asbaje, real name Juana Inés de Asbaje Ramírez de Santillananota, was a Mexican poet, scholar, and writer of the Latin American colonial period and the Spanish Baroque, and a Jerónimo nun.
Juana Ramírez was born into a poor family (Spanish father and Creole mother) and from an early age showed a burning thirst for knowledge and giftedness, but as a woman she was almost entirely self-taught. By her teens, she had already learned Greek logic and taught Latin to young children. She also learned Nahuatl, an Aztec language spoken in Central Mexico, and wrote several short poems in the language. At the age of 16, the girl was introduced to the court, and her intelligence impressed even Viceroy Antonio Sebastian de Toledo, Marquis de Mancera, and in 1664 he invited her to serve as maid of honor.
In 1669, at the age of 21, she took her tonsure at the Convent of Santa Paula of the Hieronymite Order in Mexico City, where she remained a recluse for the rest of her life. In the convent, Sister Juana enjoyed exceptional freedom: she continued to socialize with scholars and senior members of the court, amassed one of the largest private libraries in the New World, as well as a collection of musical and scientific instruments. Her plays in verse, poetry, and compositions for state and religious festivals were frequently and successfully performed at the palace.
Sister Juana was an outstanding representative of Spain's Golden Age: she was the last significant writer of the Latin American Baroque and the first great exponent of colonial Mexican culture. Sister Juana wrote sonnets, romances, and ballads, drawing on a vast store of classical, biblical, philosophical, and mythological sources. She also composed moral, satirical, and religious texts, as well as many poems praising courtiers, but she also defended women's right to education.
At the end of her life, due to pressure from religious dogmatists, Sister Juana had to sell her extensive library of some 4,000 volumes and return to strict reclusiveness. In 1695, the plague struck the convent and, while caring for her sisters, Juana died of the disease at about the age of forty-four.
Today, Juana Inés de la Cruz is a national icon of Mexico and Mexican identity as a prominent writer of the Spanish-American colonial period. The former convent where she lived is a center of higher education, and her image adorns Mexican currency.
Pedro de Oña, full name Pedro de Oña y Villegas de Acurcio, was the first known poet born in Chile.
Pedro was the son of a military captain, Gregorio de Oña, who died during the Spanish conquest of Chile. After studying at the University of San Marcos in Lima, he joined the army and participated in several battles against rebellious Indians. De Oña is known to have spent many years in Peru.
Pedro de Oña's best-known literary work is Primera parte de Arauco domado (The First Part of the Conquest of Araucana, 1596), a verse epic in rhymed couplets depicting the deeds of the Marquis Hurtado de Mendoza, viceroy of Peru from 1556 to 1560. The realistic descriptions of violence and sensationalized accounts of Mapuche customs offended many, including the Bishop of Lima, and the book was banned. Today, however, it is valued as an eyewitness account of historical events.
Antonio del Castillo y Saavedra was a Spanish Baroque painter, sculptor, and poet, renowned for his significant contributions to the Cordoba School of art. Born in Cordoba, Spain, in 1616, Castillo y Saavedra grew up under the influence of his father, Agustín del Castillo, also a painter. His early education continued under Ignacio Aedo Calderón, and later, in Seville, he studied with Francisco de Zurbarán and his uncle Juan del Castillo.
Castillo y Saavedra's work is distinguished by its adherence to naturalism, a style he maintained despite the evolving Baroque trends of his time. His landscapes and narrative paintings, often featuring elaborate architectural or landscape settings, showcase his unique spatial sense and meticulous studies of nature. Praised as an "excellent landscape painter" by his contemporaries, Castillo y Saavedra was adept at capturing nature's essence and integrating it seamlessly into his historical oil paintings. His works, such as the Calvary of the Inquisition and the series on the life of Joseph, exhibit a luminous sense of landscape with refined color palettes.
Some of his most celebrated works are housed in prestigious institutions around the world. The Museo del Prado in Madrid, Spain, holds an impressive collection of his paintings, including the notable series on the story of Joseph. The Museo de Bellas Artes de Córdoba also features his significant works, like the Calvary of the Inquisition.
Despite his death in 1668, Castillo y Saavedra's legacy lives on through his contributions to the Cordoba School, influencing generations of artists who followed. His work remains a testament to the rich cultural heritage and artistic prowess of the Spanish Golden Age.
For collectors and experts in art and antiques, Antonio del Castillo y Saavedra's works represent a pinnacle of Baroque art. To stay informed about new sales and auction events related to Castillo y Saavedra's work, we invite you to sign up for our updates. This subscription will keep you at the forefront of the latest developments in this fascinating field.
John Donne was a British preacher and poet, a major exponent of English Baroque literature.
His father was a wealthy merchant, and he was educated at Oxford, Cambridge, and Lincoln's Inn. Then began to write satires, which were willingly passed from hand to hand. The first three of Donne's famous satires date from 1593, and the others were written at various times before 1601. In 1594 he began his travels in Europe, accompanied the Earl of Essex on the capture of Cadiz in 1596 and on the expedition of 1597, and was in Italy and Spain.
In 1601. John Donne wrote his remarkable poem "The Progress of the Soul", in 1610 published his prose work against Catholics "Pseudo-Martyr", and in 1611. - an even harsher polemical treatise, Ignatius in Conclave. John Donne was also the author of many sonnets, love poems, elegies, epigrams, and religious sermons.
In 1621 John Donne was appointed rector of St. Paul's Cathedral in London, and near the end of his life he became a popular eloquent preacher whose sermons were eagerly printed and published. 160 of his sermons have survived, including the most famous, Death's Duel, which he delivered in Whitehall before King Charles I on February 25, 1631, a few weeks before his own death.
Heyman Dullaert was a Dutch painter and poet of the Golden Age. He was a student of Rembrandt, but was better known for his poetry than for his works of art. His paintings, often trompe-l'œils, can be seen at the Kröller-Müller Museum.
Wang Duo was a Chinese calligrapher, painter, and poet during the Ming dynasty, renowned for his artistic versatility and the cultural depth of his work. Born in Mengjin, Henan province, Wang Duo left an indelible mark on the artistic landscape of China, bridging the late Ming and early Qing dynasties with his creative expression.
His works, such as a mountain landscape dated 1651, showcase his mastery of ink on paper, reflecting the aesthetic preferences and skilled craftsmanship of the Qing dynasty period. Another remarkable piece, a free copy of Xu Jiaozhi’s calligraphy dating back to 1635, is a testament to his prowess in calligraphic arts, executed on a hanging scroll with ink on satin. Additionally, his lettering on gold-flecked paper, a medium that added a luminous quality to his work, is preserved as an album leaf, evidencing the fusion of literary and visual arts during the late Ming to early Qing dynasty.
For collectors, auctioneers, and experts in art and antiques, Wang Duo’s works not only represent a significant cultural heritage but also offer a glimpse into the rich tapestry of Chinese history through art. His legacy is encapsulated in the intricate strokes of his calligraphy and the serene landscapes of his paintings, many of which are held in prestigious institutions like The Metropolitan Museum of Art. To stay informed on updates related to Wang Duo and similar artists, sign up for our newsletter and enrich your collection with the essence of Chinese art history.
Ben Jonson or Benjamin Jonson was an English poet, playwright, actor and dramatic theorist.
Jonson came from a simple family, served in the army, seriously engaged in self-education, and in 1586 began a career in the theater. In the 1590s he had the good fortune to meet William Shakespeare. In 1598 Shakespeare was able to put in the theater "Globe" Jonson's play "Every man for his own good," where he played one of the roles. The two playwrights became friends and collaborated on productions of the plays. Jonson was one of the most erudite playwrights of his time and was sure to apply his deep knowledge of Greek and Roman classics in his work.
Jonson's daring character failed him more than once: he often got into fights and duels, and later began to prefer direct violence mockery of his opponents in his plays. But even in this case, he not once got into serious trouble and even sat in prison.
In 1605 Jonson with great success put in the "Globe" play "Volpone". A great admirer of Johnson's work was King James, and the next ten years were the most colorful in his career. His plays written between 1605 and 1615 - Epicoen, The Alchemist, Catalina, Bartholomew Fair and The Devil is an Ass - were a great success, rivaling Shakespeare himself.
Ben Jonson is a vivid representative of English literature of its Renaissance period. His best works ridicule human weaknesses with the help of comic realism, verbal brilliance and a remarkable gift for caricature and parody.
John Milton was a British poet and writer-publicist, intellectual and politician of the English Revolutionary period.
Milton first planned to become a priest, studied at Cambridge University, and then abandoned this activity. Several years he spent reading and self-education, learning many languages. In 1638 Milton traveled around the continent for about a year and a half, spending much time in Italy, primarily in Rome and Florence. He befriended young Italian literati, and his encounter with Galileo further influenced his writing.
Milton became best known for his poem Paradise Lost in Ten Books, which declares its purpose to justify the ways of God to man, but also touches on both universal and personal themes. Milton was the first author to use the word "cosmos" in our modern sense of "outer space," and his space epic takes place in a confidently Copernican universe.
In his prose works, Milton advocated the abolition of the Church of England and the execution of Charles I. From the outbreak of the English Civil Wars in 1642 and long after the restoration of Charles II as king in 1660, he spoke out against tyranny and state-sanctioned religion in all his works. As a Protestant, Milton was often in conflict with the Roman Catholic Church. As a civil servant, Milton became the voice of the English Commonwealth after 1649 and then under Oliver Cromwell, conducting international correspondence and defending the government against polemical attacks from abroad.
John Milton is considered the most important English writer after William Shakespeare. Author of political pamphlets and religious treatises, he is one of the most famous writers of the 1650s, the vibrant era of the English Revolution (Civil War).
Francisco Pacheco del Río, baptized on November 3, 1564, and passing away on November 27, 1644, was a distinguished Spanish painter. Renowned for his dual role as Diego Velázquez's teacher and father-in-law, Pacheco's influence extends beyond his familial ties, contributing significantly to the arts through his seminal textbook, "Art of Painting." This work remains a crucial resource for understanding 17th-century artistic practices in Spain. Often referred to as the "Vasari of Seville," Pacheco's insights into painting theories and reflections on his contemporaries have left an indelible mark on the history of art, despite criticisms of his conventional execution in painting.
Pacheco's early life was marked by an immersive education in art, learning from Luis Fernandez and drawing inspiration from Italian masters. His journey included a pivotal sojourn to Madrid and Toledo in 1611 to study the works of El Greco, which further enriched his artistic repertoire. Upon his return to Seville, Pacheco opened an art school, laying the groundwork for his future contributions to art education and theory.
His career was notably characterized by his position as the official censor for Seville's Inquisition, which influenced his academic approach to religious subjects. Despite this, his paintings, such as the Last Judgment and Martyrs of Granada, are celebrated for their monumental scale. Pacheco's most enduring legacy, however, may be his influence on Diego Velázquez, whom he mentored for six years. Velázquez's marriage to Pacheco's daughter Juana in 1618 further solidified their personal and professional bonds. Pacheco's "Arte de la pintura" not only provided invaluable biographical information on Spanish painters of his era but also laid down foundational theories on iconography, materials, and technique.
For those interested in exploring Francisco Pacheco del Río's works further, notable pieces can be found in prestigious collections, such as the Museo Nacional del Prado, enriching our understanding of his impact on the art world.
Art enthusiasts, collectors, and experts are encouraged to sign up for updates to stay informed about new product sales and auction events related to Francisco Pacheco del Río, ensuring you remain at the forefront of developments in the fascinating world of art and antiques.
Bonaventura Peeters the Elder was a prominent Flemish painter, draughtsman, and etcher specializing in marine art during the 17th century. His extensive body of work encompassed marine battles, storms at sea, shipwrecks, and views of ships in rivers and harbours.
Peeters displayed a keen understanding of ships, capturing their intricate details. His earlier works exhibited tonal landscapes influenced by Dutch painting, while later pieces reflected vibrant colors inspired by Italian classicism. He skillfully depicted dramatic shipwrecks, serene ports, and intricate portrayals of ships. Many of his paintings depicted actual locations along the North Sea and the river Scheldt, while others showcased imagined scenes of far-away Mediterranean and Middle Eastern ports. Peeters also collaborated with family members and fellow artists, and his drawings and engravings were included in notable publications like Blaeu's Atlas Maior.
William Shakespeare was a British poet and playwright and writer.
William's father, John Shakespeare, was a merchant and official in Stratford. There are reports that he was a sailor for a time before joining a theater company in London. Beginning in the 1590s, Shakespeare began writing plays, and in 1593 he published a poem, Venus and Adonis, which became popular. He dedicated it to the Duke of Southampton, who was a philanthropist and patron of talent, and soon his business was booming.
From 1592 to 1600 Shakespeare wrote his dramas and romantic comedies "Richard III", "The Taming of the Shrew", "Romeo and Juliet", "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and "The Merchant of Venice", as well as the comedies "Much Ado About Nothing", "Twelfth Night" and the tragedy "Julius Caesar". The playwright's business was so successful that he even bought a large house in Stratford. In 1599, Shakespeare became one of the owners, playwright and actor of the new theater "Globe". In 1603 King James took Shakespeare's troupe under his direct patronage. In the mature period, the great playwright turned to tragedies, there were "Hamlet", "Othello", "King Lear", "Macbeth" and others.
Although in the 19th century researchers had some doubts about the authorship of many of these works, William Shakespeare is considered the greatest English playwright, one of the best playwrights in the world. His plays have been translated into all major languages and to this day form the basis of the world theatrical repertoire, most of them have been screened many times. According to the Guinness Book of Records, Shakespeare remains the world's best-selling playwright, and his plays and poems have sold more than 4 billion copies in the nearly 400 years since his death.
Jonathan Swift was a British-Irish writer, essayist, philosopher, and author of the world-famous satirical novel Gulliver's Travels.
Swift also wrote numerous works, including The Tale of the Barrel (1704), An Argument Against the Abolition of Christianity (1712), and A Modest Proposal (1729). Almost all of Swift's satirical works were published anonymously, giving the author wide latitude in expressing his talent as a satirist.
Swift was a clergyman, made a career in London, became the chief pamphleteer and political writer of the Tories and headed the Tory journal "The Inspector", and then returned to Ireland, where he created his major life's work.
The four-part novel Gulliver's Travels, Jonathan Swift's greatest satire, was first published in 1726 and has since been reprinted hundreds of times in many languages around the world. The author describes in an engaging style the different races and societies that Gulliver encounters on his travels to ridicule the many errors, follies, weaknesses and vices to which people and society at large are subject. The author's boundless imagination, bitter irony, keen intellect and brilliant language give this work a world-class scope.
