Catalogue information
The mythological (Greek) figure Polyphemus in a copper engraving by Jan de Bisschop. No. 14 from the Paradigmata Graphices Variorum Artificum series (Examples of Drawing Art by Verscheyde Meesters). Jan de Bisschop worked on this series in The Hague from 1668 to 1671. The engraving depicts an enraged Polyphemus. Polyphemus is the son of the sea god Poseidon and the gorgo Medousa. Polyphemus is a Cyclops, lives alone in a cave on an island and keeps a flock of sheep. When Odysseus and his men enter the island, the Cyclops eats a number of men every day and thanks to the wine that Odysseus treats the Cyclops, Odysseus will be the last to be eaten. The Cyclops is enraged with pain when Odysseus and his men stab a burning stake through the sleeping eye of the Cyclops. The engraving by Jan de Bisschop is after a drawing by Daniele da Volterra (1509 - 1566). No 14 is written on the engraving, top right. Immediately below that is the letter J. Signed, bottom center of the engraving. Jan de Bisschop (1628 - 1671), also known as Johannes Episcopius, was a lawyer and an amateur draftsman. He copied classical masters of painting. In 1670 the Bisschop published 2 books for young artists, including 112 engravings, made in 1668 - 1669 called: Signorum Veterum Icones or: Images of Antique Statues.
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