 |
| Adriaen van Ostade Painter's studio ca. 1670-75 Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam |
 |
| Paulus Bor Disillusioned Medea ca. 1640 Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York |
Oh, can we love and live? Pray, let us die
If living cannot meet. I'll tell you why:
When dead we may both of us turn to air,
So meet in higher regions that is fair,
Thus have a calm; or, turned to waters sweet,
Posting down rivers, in the sea to meet;
Or else, our subtle motions air, mount higher,
Our heated love inflame us to one fire,
And there we're joined: one sun, your love and mine,
On mortal lovers here ever to shine.
– William Cavendish, Duke of Newcastle (1592-1676)
 |
| Michael Janz van Mierevelt Portrait of Horace Vere 1629 National Portrait Gallery, London |
 |
| Karel Dujardin Regents of the Spinhuis 1669 Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam |
 |
| Bartholomeus van der Helst The Musician 1662 Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York |
 |
| Aert de Gelder Ahimelech presents the sword of Goliath to David 1680s Getty Museum, Los Angeles |
 |
| Adriaen van de Velde Annunciation 1667 Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam |
 |
| David Colijns Ascension of Elijah 1627 Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam |
 |
| Jacob van Ruisdael Wheat fields ca. 1670 Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York |
 |
| Salomon van Ruysdael Country road 1648 Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York |
 |
| Salomon van Ruysdael Marine scene 1650 Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York |
 |
| Philip de Koninck River landscape 1676 Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam |
 |
| Cornelis van Poelenburch Landscape with Diana and Actaeon 1624 Prado, Madrid |
 |
| Joachim Wtewael Wedding of Peleus and Thetis 1612 Clark Art Institute, Williamstown, Mass. |
How like a fire doth love increase in me:
The longer that it lasts, the stronger still,
The greater, purer, brighter; and doth fill
No eye with wonder more than hopes still be
Bred in my breast, when fires of love are free
To use that part to their best pleasing will;
And now impossible it is to kill
The heat so great, where love his strength doth see.
Mine eyes can scarce sustain the flames my heart
Doth trust in them, my passions to impart,
And languishingly strive to show my love;
My breath not able is to breathe least part
Of that increasing fuel of my smart;
Yet love I will till I but ashes prove.
– Lady Mary Wroth (ca. 1586-ca. 1652)