Book Title: Spiegel van het menselyk bedrijf : in kleuren vertoond met honderd verbeeldingen, van ambachten, konsten, hanteeringen en bedryven, met verzen / Jan en Kasper Luiken.

Author: Luiken, Jan, 1649-1712

Image Title: The Blacksmith: Spend your industry At the right time

Scripture Reference:

• Proverbs 3 (further images / scripture text)

Description: The blacksmith uses a pair of tongs to hold a piece of iron in the brick forge while working the bellows with his other hand. On the floor next to him are an anvil, a hammer and a large water bucket; in the background is a second workman. The Dutch artist and poet, Jan Luiken (1649-1712), was responsible for drawing this emblem and for creating the motto and poem that follow. Jan Luiken and/or his son Casper Luiken (1672-1708) were responsible for its etching. The attendant scripture text is Proverbs 3:29. Motto: Spend your industry / At the right time. Poem: The iron, glowing with fire / Is now in a workable state; /Then is it time for fashioning: /oh Man, work so your heart, /At the right time of life’s glow, /So that no regret will trouble you. (Translation by Josephine V. Brown, with editorial assistance from William G. Stryker).

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