Urania en Polyhymnia 1640

Crispijn van de Passe (II)'s 1640 engraving "Urania en Polyhymnia" depicts the Muses Urania and Polyhymnia, each in an oval frame. Urania, the Muse of astronomy, is depicted holding a lyre and gazing towards a celestial globe and the stars. Polyhymnia, the Muse of sacred poetry, plays a violin. The etching captures the muses as embodiments of knowledge and artistic inspiration. The print, characteristic of 17th-century Dutch art, showcases the detail and skill of the engraver. The etching is currently located in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.