Book Title: Spiegel van het menselyk bedrijf : in kleuren vertoond met honderd verbeeldingen, van ambachten, konsten, hanteeringen en bedryven, met verzen / Jan en Kasper Luiken.

Author: Luiken, Jan, 1649-1712

Image Title: The Bellows Maker: Fetch, through your breath, From God your air

Scripture Reference:

• Psalms 51 (further images / scripture text)

Description: The bellows maker, who sits in his workshop with a pair of bellows across his knees, gives instructions to his apprentice; a canal and city scene are visible through the open door. The Dutch artist and poet, Jan Luiken (1649-1712), was responsible for drawing this emblem and for creating the motto and poem that follow. Jan Luiken and/or his son Casper Luiken (1672-1708) were responsible for its etching. The attendant scripture text is Psalm 51:11 though Luiken writes Psalm 51:13. Motto: Fetch, through your breath, / From God your air. Poem: The air, pushed out from the bellows, / Gives to the fire an airy life: /O Holy breath from God’s spirit! /That blew air so beautifully at Whitsunday, / And sowed tongues of fire. / Blow eternally in the fire of our souls. (Translation by Josephine V. Brown, with editorial assistance from William G. Stryker).

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