De bibliotheek van de Delftse schilder Cornelis Damen Rietwijck (1589/1590-1660)

Abstract

The inventory of the estate of the Delft painter and art teacher Cornelis Damen Rietwijck (c.1590-before 1659) from Delft contains a list of at least 124 books, not mentioning the pamphlets and booklets in "packages". Only four portrait paintings by Rietwijck are known. Rietwijck was a Catholic, and had contacts with the Jesuits in the so-called Papenhoek, where they were neighbours to the painter Johannes Vermeer. Only three of the books from Rietwijck's library are dealing with art (nrs.42, 67, 123). The majority of the books has a religious character : Bible, Church history, homilies, spirituality, theology and controversy literature. Apart from those there are fourteen literary works and two travel stories. It is a remarkable fact that Rietwijck also owned a copy of a publication by the heretical Delft glass painter David Joris (27). Thirty of these religious books were written by Jesuits. The majority of the books was printed in the Southern Netherlands. A remarkable number of the books contained illustrations, possible examples for Rietwijck's artistic activities. After an introduction the manuscript of the inventory is published, and the titles have been identified as far as possible.