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 Rope Walker: The course is bad, But the work is right

Description: The rope walker walks backwards while twisting the hemp that is wrapped around his waist; in the background left, several workmen make a cable. 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 1 Corinthians 1:18-25. Motto: The course is bad, / But the work is right. Poem: The pious man’s wrong walking, / In the eye of him, who doesn’t understand it, /Nevertheless serves a useful purpose. /That in a storm stands it in good stead; / Then life’s ship remains secure /On its twisted cables. (Translation by Josephine V. Brown, with editorial assistance from William G. Stryker).

Click here for additional images available from this book.

Request a high-resolution file (fees apply)

Rights Statement: The online edition of this work in the public domain, i.e., not protected by copyright, has been produced by Pitts Theology Library, Emory University.
Rights Status: No Copyright - United States
Pitts Theology Library provides copyright information as a courtesy and makes no representation about copyright or other legal status of materials in the Digital Image Archive.