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 Instrument Maker: It’s good or bad, Depending on the aim

Scripture Reference:

• Genesis 4 (further images / scripture text)

Description: The instrument maker sits in his workshop. He is in the process of building a lute and talks to a man standing next to him; a number of musical instruments stand or hang around him. A city canal with a small boat is visible through the open window. 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 Genesis 4:21. Motto: It’s good or bad, / Depending on the aim. Poem: The string music, a food for the ears, /How enjoyable and special is it / What has been created by the art of playing, /If it doesn’t serve to kick your conscience, /To step up to the source, /Then it is, like everything, vanity. (Translation by Josephine V. Brown, with editorial assistance from William G. Stryker).

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