Amantes spes alit.

Piscibus ob lucrum tenduntur retia, Amantes,
Nos quoque virginibus tendimus insidias:
Scilicet optatum quo possideamus amorem:
Sic spe quisque sua ducitur atque alitur.

Hoop voedt de minnaers.

Ghelijck de Zee-luy, en de Visschers aen der stranghen,
Op hoop van goede vangst gaen waghen lijf en goedt:
Zo werden de Minnaers met innerlijck verlanghen,
Oock vande zoete hoop gheleyt, en steets ghevoedt.

Espoir conduit la pesche.

Ces Esprits aquatiqs, ces amys de la Lune,
Qui soubs l'hazard du gain travaillent nuit & iour;
Ressemblent vivement à ces vassaux d'Amour;
Qui par mille dangers pourchassent leur fortune:
Car ilz vivent egaux tous deux de c'est espoir:
Que la fin les fera bon loyer recevoir.

4[b] ↓

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Facsimile Images

4[a]

4[b]

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Translations

Lovers feed on hope.

Nets are cast out to catch fish, for gain, Lovers.
We also lay our ambush for maidens,
So as to obtain, of course, the love we have wished for;
In that way everyone is lead and fed by his own hope.

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Literature

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Sources and parallels

Same motto, pictura slightly modified (less clouds in the background): De liefde is onbegrypelyk [4] (in: Willem den Elger, Zinne-beelden der liefde (1703)) [Compare]
Same motto, pictura slightly modified (less clouds in the background): Amantes spes alit. [10] (in: anonymous, Emblemata amatoria (1690)) [Compare]
The motto and subscriptio are inspired by Vaenius in: Spes amoris nutrix optima [30] (in: Otto Vaenius, Amorum emblemata (1608)) [Compare]

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References, across this site, to this page:

Amantes spes alit. [10] (in: anonymous, Emblemata amatoria (1690))
De liefde is onbegrypelyk [4] (in: Willem den Elger, Zinne-beelden der liefde (1703))
Spes amoris nutrix optima [30] (in: Otto Vaenius, Amorum emblemata (1608))

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Iconclass

Cupids fishing from a boat and from a pole in the water

coast [25H13]
sea (seascape) [25H23]
landscape with tower or castle [25I5]
climbing [31A2723]
drawing, pulling something [31A2747]
smoke [41B162]
sports, games ~ animals (+ fishing-rod) [43C1(+4161)]
sports, games ~ animals (+ net) [43C1(+4163)]
fishing (sports) [43C12]
angling [43C121]
rowing-boat, canoe, etc. [46C232]
sailing-ship, sailing-boat [46C24]
Hope; 'Speranza', 'Speranza delle fatiche' (Ripa) (+ emblematical representation of concept) [56D1(+4)]
(personifications and symbolic representations of) Love; 'Amore (secondo Seneca)' (Ripa) (+ emblematical representation of concept) [56F2(+4)]
proverbs, sayings, etc. (with TEXT) [86(AMANTES SPES ALIT)]
other non-aggressive activities of Cupid [92D156]
cupids: 'amores', 'amoretti', 'putti' [92D1916]

Amantes spes alit [4]

Facsimile Images

Translations

Literature

Sources and parallels

References, across this site, to this page:

Iconclass

Comments

Notes