The Album Amicorum of Jacob Heyblocq

Among dutch Alba Amicorum that of Jacob Heyblocq (1623-1690) comes first and foremost. Heyblocq, who started his album in 1645, was appointed a teacher, later rector, at the Latin School in Amsterdam. Through this position and his active participation in contemporary literary circles, his album could become the richest example of its kind. The poets Joost van den Vondel, Jacob Cats, Jacob Westerbaen and Willem Godschalk van Fockenbroch, eminent scholars like Daniel Heinsius, Johannes Polyander a Kerckhoven, Gerardus Johannes Vossius, Anna Maria van Schurman, Johannes Comenius and painters like Rembrandt, Aart van der Neer, Govert Flinck, Jan de Bray and Jan Gerritsz. van Bronckhorst all contributed to this booklet by writing fine texts or producing exquisite illustrations.