Four Books of Lyrics. The frontispiece

Matthias Casimirus Sarbievius, Lyricorum libri IV. Epodon liber unus alterque epigrammatum. Antwerp, 1632.

This is a book of poetry by Matthias Casimirus Sarbievius, published by Balthasar Moretus (1574–1641) at the Officina Plantiniana, with a frontispiece drawn by Peter Paul Rubens (1577–1640) and engravings carried out by Cornelis Galle (1576–circa 1650).

On the left of the frontispiece, there is Apollo. Behind him is a palm tree, a symbol of success in the arts. Below the altar is the Hippocrene Spring, which has the miraculous power to inspire poets. The infant in the cradle is believed to be Pindar, with bees swarming over his face. Behind the cradle, the Muse of lyric poetry is said to be there, pointing to the coat of arms of Pope Urban VIII.

Text compiled by M. Grubliauskas, A. Rinkūnaitė, I. Saudargienė.

Photograph by Mindaugas Česlikauskas (2025).