Iusta Simplicitate / Boulenham [The Netherlands], an engraving from the book "Thesaurus Philopoliticus" by Daniel Meisner (first published in Frankfurt, 1623).
Meisner's book, "Thesaurus Philopoliticus", included more than 800 emblems – engravings presenting allegoric scenes on an urban background, mostly European. The city views are not related to the content of the emblems and appear as a background of decorative value only.
This engraving, praising integrity and simplicity, depicts a bearded man wearing a fur coat, holding scales in his hand. On the scales are a fox on one side and a pigeon on the other, heavy side. Seen in the background is the Boulenham castle in Gelderland, The Netherlands. A riddle in Latin and German appears on the bottom of the engraving. Most probably, the elegantly dressed figure represents a Jewish moneylender, a figure whose values are supposedly opposite to those praised by the emblem.
Leaf: 20X15 cm. Good condition. Minor stains. Ink numbering on top right corner. Matted.