Panpoeticon Batavum

Two plates of the Pan Poëticon Batavum on show in the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam

The Pan Poëticon Batavum was a collection of small portraits of poets mounted on plates that were kept in a curiosity cabinet by the 18th-century Dutch painter Arnoud van Halen.

History of the collection

Van Halen began assembling his collection around 1700 by painting miniature portraits himself that he copied from engravings. For contemporary poets he enlisted the help of friends and colleagues. Before he died, Van Halen managed to collect 346 portraits. Currently, 80 of them are part of the collection of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. Van Halen's cabinet was very popular, and consequently several books mentioned it or had it as a subject. These books included Schouburgh by Arnold Houbraken. Houbraken claimed that the cabinet held portraits of over 100 people (Houbraken was writing in 1712).[1]

History of the book

The most notable book was published by the man who purchased this collection after Van Halen died in 1732, Michiel de Roode. De Roode published the book in 1773 as a member of Leiden's learned society ‘Kunst wordt door arbeid verkreegen’ (art is accomplished by work) which paid for the edition. That the book was popular is attested by the fact that in 1808 the Teyler's Stichting gave Wybrand Hendriks the request to purchase it for up to 500 guilders at auction, and Hendriks bought it for 200 guilders.[2]

An incomplete list of poet portraits:

image Article inception collection inventory number creator
Portrait of Bernardus de Bosch I (1709-1786), Poet and Art Patron in Amsterdam 1743 Rijksmuseum SK-A-791
SK-A-4625 		Jan Maurits Quinkhard
Portrait of Theodoor van Snakenburg, Jurist and Poet in Leiden 1743 Rijksmuseum SK-A-4832 Hieronymus van der Mij
Portrait of Pierius Winsemius, Professor of Rhetoric and History in Franeker Rijksmuseum SK-A-1503 Jan Maurits Quinkhard
Portrait of Frans Greenwood, Miniaturist, Glass Engraver and Poet in Dordrecht Rijksmuseum SK-A-1968 Aert Schouman
Portrait of Matheus de Casteleyn, Priest and Rhetorician in Oudenaarde Rijksmuseum SK-A-4553 Jan Maurits Quinkhard
Jason Pratensis (1486-1558), physician of Zierikzee Rijksmuseum SK-A-4554 Jan Maurits Quinkhard
Portrait of Petrus Bertius, Professor at Leiden Rijksmuseum SK-A-4556 Arnoud van Halen
Portrait of Johannes Polyander à Kerckhoven, Professor of Theology in Leiden Rijksmuseum SK-A-4557 Arnoud van Halen
Portrait of Johan van der Does the Younger, Librarian in Leiden Rijksmuseum SK-A-4558 Arnoud van Halen
Portrait of Theodorus Velius, Writer of the Chronicle of Horn Rijksmuseum SK-A-4559 Jan Maurits Quinkhard
Portrait of Theodorus Schrevelius (1572-1653) Rijksmuseum SK-A-4560 Arnoud van Halen
Portrait of Jacob van den Eynde, Governor of Woerden Rijksmuseum SK-A-4561 Arnoud van Halen
Portrait of Jan van der Rosieren (born 1581) Rijksmuseum SK-A-4563 Arnoud van Halen
Portrait of Jacobus Schotte, Burgomaster of Middelburg Rijksmuseum SK-A-4564 Jan Maurits Quinkhard
Portrait of Adriaen Pietersz van de Venne (1589-1662) Rijksmuseum SK-A-4565 Arnoud van Halen
Portrait of Samuel Ampzing (ca.1591-1632) Rijksmuseum SK-A-4566 Arnoud van Halen
Portrait of Jan Jansz Starter (1594-1626) Rijksmuseum SK-A-4567 Arnoud van Halen
Portrait of Florentius Schoonhoven, Poet in Latin, Burgomaster of Gouda Rijksmuseum SK-A-4568 Arnoud van Halen
Portrait of Constantijn Huygens, Poet, Secretary to Prince Frederick Henry and Prince William II and First Councilor and Exchequer to William III Rijksmuseum SK-A-4570 Jan Maurits Quinkhard
Portrait of Willem de Groot, Lawyer and Writer Rijksmuseum SK-A-4571 Jan Maurits Quinkhard
Portrait of Cornelis Hendriksz Udemans, Poet in Veere Rijksmuseum SK-A-4572 Jan Maurits Quinkhard
Portrait of Jan van der Veen, Pharmacist and Poet in Deventer Rijksmuseum SK-A-4574 Arnoud van Halen
Portrait of Jacob Lescailje, Bookdealer and Poet in Amsterdam Rijksmuseum SK-A-4576 Jan Maurits Quinkhard
Portrait of Joannes Cools (born 1611), Jurist, Historian and Latin Poet in Hoorn Rijksmuseum SK-A-4578 Arnoud van Halen
Portrait of Marcus Zuërius van Boxhorn, Historian and Professor at Leiden Rijksmuseum SK-A-4579 Arnoud van Halen
Portrait of Willem Jacobsz van Heemskerck, Poet and Engraver on Glass Rijksmuseum SK-A-4581 Arnoud van Halen
Portrait of the painter Bonaventura Peeters I (1614-52) Rijksmuseum SK-A-4582 Arnoud van Halen
Portrait of Alexander Morus, Professor at Amsterdam Rijksmuseum SK-A-4584 Arnoud van Halen
Portrait of Everard Meyster, Poet in Utrecht Rijksmuseum SK-A-4586 Arnoud van Halen
Portrait of Joan van Paffenrode, Baron of Ghussigny, Dramatic Poet Rijksmuseum SK-A-4587 Arnoud van Halen
Portrait of Willem Ogier, Dramatic Poet in Antwerp Rijksmuseum SK-A-4588 Arnoud van Halen
Portrait of Jan Six (1618-1700) Rijksmuseum SK-A-4589 Arnoud van Halen
Portrait of Johan van Nijenborgh, Poet in Groningen Rijksmuseum SK-A-4590 Arnoud van Halen
Portrait of Sibylle van Griethuysen (ca.1620-na 1662) Rijksmuseum SK-A-4591 Arnoud van Halen
Jan Vos (c. 1620-67), Amsterdam poet Rijksmuseum SK-A-4592 Arnoud van Halen
Portrait of Caspar van Kinschot, Poet Rijksmuseum SK-A-4595 Arnoud van Halen
Portrait of Jacob Heiblocq, Rector of the Latin School in Amsterdam Rijksmuseum SK-A-4596 Arnoud van Halen
Portrait of Tieleman Jansz van Bracht, Clergyman and Poet in Dordrecht Rijksmuseum SK-A-4597 Jan Maurits Quinkhard
Portrait of Johan de Witt, Grand Pensionary of Holland Rijksmuseum SK-A-4598 Jan Maurits Quinkhard
Portrait of Matthys van de Merwede, Lord of Clootwyck, Poet in Dordrecht (Mathias de Merwede de Clootwyck) Rijksmuseum SK-A-4599 Arnoud van Halen
Portrait of Franciscus Planté, Clergyman at Zevenbergen and in Brazil Rijksmuseum SK-A-4600 Arnoud van Halen
Portrait of Frans Godin, Poet in Brussels Rijksmuseum SK-A-4602 Jan Maurits Quinkhard
Portrait of Andries Pels (1631-81) Rijksmuseum SK-A-4603 Arnoud van Halen
Portrait of Joost van Geel, Painter and Poet in Rotterdam Rijksmuseum SK-A-4604 Jan Maurits Quinkhard
Portrait of Joannes Vollenhove, Clergyman and Poet in The Hague Rijksmuseum SK-A-4605 Arnoud van Halen
Portrait of Christoffel Pierson (1631-1714) Rijksmuseum SK-A-4606 Arnoud van Halen
Portrait of Aernout van Overbeke, Explorer and Poet Rijksmuseum SK-A-4607 Jan Maurits Quinkhard
Portrait of Frans van Hoogstraten, Poet and Bookseller in Rotterdam and Dordrecht Rijksmuseum SK-A-4608 Arnoud van Halen
Portrait of Petrus Schaak, Clergyman and Scholar in Amsterdam Rijksmuseum SK-A-4609 Jan Maurits Quinkhard
Portrait of Karel Verloove, Poet in Amsterdam Rijksmuseum SK-A-4610 Arnoud van Halen
Portrait of Pieter Verhoek (1633-1702) Rijksmuseum SK-A-4611 Arnoud van Halen
Portrait of Balthasar Bekker, Clergyman and Man of Letters in Amsterdam Rijksmuseum SK-A-4612 Arnoud van Halen
Portrait of David Lingelbach I, Founder of the Nieuwe Doolhof (New Labyringh), Amsterdam Rijksmuseum SK-A-4613 Arnoud van Halen
Portrait of Tobias Gutberleth, Man of Letters in Leeuwarden Rijksmuseum SK-A-4615 Arnoud van Halen
Portrait of Gijsbert Tijssens, Playwright in Amsterdam Rijksmuseum SK-A-4616 Jan Maurits Quinkhard
Adrianus van Royen (1704-79), professor of medicine and botany in Leiden Rijksmuseum SK-A-4617 anonymous
Portrait of Frans van Steenwijk, Poet and Playwright in Amsterdam Rijksmuseum SK-A-4618 Jan Maurits Quinkhard
Portrait of Joannes Badon, Poet from Vlaardingen Rijksmuseum SK-A-4619 Nicolaas Reyers
Portrait of Abraham Haen the Younger, Draftsman, Etcher and Poet in Amsterdam Rijksmuseum SK-A-4620 Jan Maurits Quinkhard
Portrait of Lucas Pater, Merchant and Poet in Amsterdam Rijksmuseum SK-A-4621 Jan Maurits Quinkhard
Portrait of Cornelis van der Pot, Merchant and Poet in Rotterdam Rijksmuseum SK-A-4622 Dionys van Nijmegen
Portrait of Frans de Haes, Poet and Linguist in Rotterdam Rijksmuseum SK-A-4623 Dionys van Nijmegen
Portrait of Adriaan van der Vliet, Poet in Rotterdam Rijksmuseum SK-A-4624 Dionys van Nijmegen
Portrait of Nicolaas Willem op den Hooff, Physician and Translator in Amsterdam Rijksmuseum SK-A-4626 Jan Maurits Quinkhard
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References

  1. ^ (in Dutch) Arnoud van Halen's "Kabinet" mentioned in De groote schouburgh der Nederlantsche konstschilders en schilderessen (1718) by Arnold Houbraken, courtesy of the Digital library for Dutch literature
  2. ^ Teylers Museum Archived 2014-07-14 at the Wayback Machine