Illustratie voor de Decamerone van Boccaccio
1697
Medium
etching
Dimensions
72; 80
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Illustratie voor de Decamerone van Boccaccio, historie LXX. Meucio ligt in bed en kijkt naar de verschijning van zijn overleden vriend Tingusso.
Art Historical Context
This delicate etching by Romeyn de Hooghe, created in 1697, serves as an illustration for the seventieth tale in Giovanni Boccaccio’s celebrated *Decameron*. De Hooghe, one of the most prolific Dutch printmakers of the late Golden Age, specialized in lively book illustrations that brought literary classics to a wide audience. His work often appeared in Dutch editions of Italian and French texts, reflecting the lively cultural exchange between the Netherlands and Southern Europe during this period. The scene captures a moment of supernatural drama: Meucio lies in bed, confronted by the ghostly apparition of his deceased friend Tingusso. Rendered in the fine, expressive lines characteristic of etching, the small print (just 72 by 80 mm) conveys both intimacy and tension. De Hooghe’s dynamic composition draws the viewer into this eerie encounter, highlighting the *Decameron*’s enduring fascination with themes of love, fate, and the afterlife. As a modest yet vivid example of seventeenth-century book illustration, the etching demonstrates how printmaking made great literature accessible beyond elite circles, preserving Boccaccio’s storytelling for new generations of readers.
About the Artist
Romeyn de Hooghe · 1645–1708
Romeyn de Hooghe (1645-1708) was a Dutch Baroque engraver, draughtsman, and political satirist who became the most prolific and versatile graphic artist of the Dutch Republic in the late seventeenth century. Born in Amsterdam, he rose to become one of early modern Europe's most important printmakers and a pioneering master of political satire. De Hooghe's significance extends far beyond his techn...