STOICS AND NEOSTOICS ι. Frontispiece: P. P. Rubens, The Four Philosophers. Florence. Pitti Palace (Scala/Art Resource) /P Stoics and Neostoics RUBENS AND THE CIRCLE OF LIPSIUS BY MARK MORFORD PRINCETON UNIVERSITY PRESS PRINCETON, NEW JERSEY Copyright © 1991 by Princeton University Press Published by Princeton University Press, 41 William Street, Princeton, New Jersey 08540 In the United Kingdom: Princeton University Press, Oxford All Rights Reserved LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA Morford, Mark P. O., 192.9— Stoics and neostoics : Rubens and the circle of Lipsius / Mark Morford. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and indexes. ISBN 0-691-04081-8 1. Lipsius, Justus, 1547—1606. 2. Rubens, Peter Paul, Sir, 1577—1640—Philosophy. 3. Philosophy, Renaissance. 4. Stoics. I. Title. B785.L44M67 1991 199'.493—dczo 90-9115 This book has been composed in Linotron Sabon Princeton University Press books are printed on acid-free paper, and meet the guidelines for permanence and durability of the Committee on Production Guidelines for Book Longevity of the Council on Library Resources Printed in the United States of America by Princeton University Press, Princeton, New Jersey 13579 10 8642 FOR MARTHA My Bright Particular Star Le Bonheur de Ce Monde Sonnet Compose par Christophe Plantin A voir une maison commode, propre et belle, Un jardin tapisse d'espaliers odorans, Des fruits, d'excellent vin, peu de train, peu d'enfans, Posseder seul, sans bruit, une femme fidele. N'avoir dettes, amour, ni proces, ni querelle, Ni de partage a faire avecque ses parens, Se contenter de peu, n'esperer rien des Grands, Regler tous ses desseins sur un juste modele. Vivre avecque franchise et sans ambition, S'adonner sans scrupule a la devotion, Domter ses passions, Ies rendre obeissantes. Conserver l'esprit libre, et Ie jugement fort, Dire son Chapelet en cultivant ses entes, Cest attendre chez soi bien doucement la mort. CONTENTS ILLUSTRATIONS xi PREFACE xiii ABBREVIATIONS xvii CHAPTER I : The Four Philosophers 3 CHAPTER 2: The Friends and Pupils of Lipsius 14 CHAPTER 3 : Self-Portrait with Friends 52 CHAPTER 4: Lipsius, the Church, and Posterity 96 CHAPTER 5: Tacitus and Seneca 139 CHAPTER 6: Neostoicism and Peter Paul Rubens 181 CHAPTER 7: Omnia Vincit Amor 211 BIBLIOGRAPHY 225 INDEX 237 ILLUSTRATIONS Illustrations follow p. 246 1. Frontispiece: P. P. Rubens, The Four 12. C. Galle, title page of J. Lipsius, Philosophers. Florence, Pitti Palace Opera Omnia, vol. 2 (Antwerp, (Scala/Art Resource) 1637). Washington, Folger Shake­ 2. T. Galle, title page of J. Lipsius, L. speare Library Anrtaei Senecae Philosophi Opera 13. Medals with busts of Woverius, from Quae Exstant Omnia (Antwerp, G. van Loon, Histoire Metallique 1605). Princeton University Library des XVII Provinces des Pays-Bas 3. C. Galle, title page of J. Lipsius, L. (The Hague, 1732). Washington, Annaei Senecae Philosophi Opera Library of Congress Quae Exstant Omnia (Antwerp, 14. Title page of M. Smetius, Inscrip- 1652) (reissue of 1615 edition). tionum Antiquarum . Liber (Lei­ Rare Book Division, Special Collec­ den, 1588). Houghton Library, tions, University of Virginia Library Harvard University 4. Bust of Seneca. Antwerp, Rubens- 15. T. de Bry, portrait of J. Lipsius, from huis J. J. Boissard, Thesaurus Virtutis et 5. The African Fisherman. Paris, Gloriae (Frankfurt, 1598-1632). Louvre Washington, Folger Shakespeare 6. C. Galle, Dying Seneca, from L. An- Library naei Senecae . Opera . Omnia 16. J. Lipsius, Politiea 4.3, from Opera (Antwerp, 1652). Rare Book Divi­ Omnia (Antwerp, 1637), 4:47. sion, Special Collections, University Washington, Folger Shakespeare of Virginia Library Library 7. C. Galle, bust of Seneca, from L. An- 17. C. Galle, title page of J. Lipsius, naei Senecae . Opera . Omnia Opera Omnia (Antwerp, 1637). (Antwerp, 1652). Rare Book Divi­ Washington, Folger Shakespeare sion, Special Collections, University Library of Virginia Library 18. J. Neeffs, title page of C. Gevartius, 8. Amicitia etiam post mortem durans, Pompa Introitus . Ferdinandi from A. Alciati, Emblemata (Padua, Austriaei (Antwerp, 1642). Wash­ 1621), no. 160. RareBook Divi­ ington, Library of Congress sion, Special Collections, University 19. J. Harrewijn, Courtyard of the Ru- of Virginia Library benshuis, 1684. Antwerp, Rubens- 9. P. P. Rubens, Self-Portrait with huis Friends. Cologne, Wallraf-Richartz 20. P. P. Rubens, Portrait of J. Lipsius. Museum London, British Museum 10. Timetable for Lipsius' contubernales, 21. C. Galle, Portrait of J. Lipsius, from Arch. Plant. 1150a, fol. 22. Ant­ L. Annaei Seneeae . Opera . werp, Museum Plantin-Moretus Omnia (Antwerp, 1652). Rare Book 11. C. Galle, portrait of Philip Rubens, Division, Special Collections, Uni­ from P. Rubens, S. Asterii Episeopi versity of Virginia Library Amasiae Fiomiliae (Antwerp, 22. Virtuti Fortuna Comes, from A. Al­ 1615). University of Illinois Library ciati, Emblemata (Padua, 1621), no. Xl ILLUSTRATIONS 119. Rare Book Division, Special 33. P. P. Rubens, The Apotheosis of Collections, University of Virginia James I. Whitehall, Banqueting Library House (Royal Commission on the 23. P. P. Rubens, The Death of Seneca. Historical Monuments of England) Munich, Bayerische Staatsgemalde- 34. P. P. Rubens, The Benefits of Good sammlungen Government. Whitehall, Banqueting 24. Pompeia Paulina, Determined to Die House (Royal Commission on the with Her Husband, Seneca, with Historical Monuments of England) Him in the Bath, from A. Dufour, 35. P. P. Rubens, The Unification of En­ Les Vies des Femmes Celebres, MS gland and Scotland. Whitehall, Ban­ XVII, fol. 48. Musees Departemen- queting House (Royal Commission taux de Loire-Atlantique, Musee on the Historical Monuments of Thomas Dobree, Nantes England) 36. P. P. Rubens, Minerva Conquering 25. J. Harrewijn, after J. van Croes, The Sedition. Antwerp, Koninklijk Mu­ Pavilion, Garden, and Studio of the seum voor Schone Kunsten Rubenshuis (showing only the bases 37. P. P. Rubens, Hercules as Heroic Vir­ of the courtyard archway; below, tue Overcoming Discord. Boston, the Sculpture Gallery converted to a Museum of Fine Arts, Ernest Wads- chapel, street elevation of the Rub- worth Longfellow Fund enshuis, and bedroom) in 1692.. Ant­ 38. P. P. Rubens, The Apotheosis of werp, Rubenshuis ]ames I. London, National Gallery, 26. P. P. Rubens (?), Tbe Hero Crowned Glynde Place Collection by Victory. London, British Mu­ 39. T. van Thulden, The Arch of Saint seum Michael, from C. Gevartius, Pompa 27. T. van Thulden, Hercules Prodicius, Introitus Ferdinandi (Antwerp, from C. Gevartius, Pompa Introitus 1642). Washington, Library of Con­ Ferdinandi (Antwerp, 1642). Wash­ gress ington, Library of Congress 40. G. van Veen, Alessandro Farnese as 28. P. P. Rubens, Decius Mus Relating Hercules Guided by Religion. Am­ His Dream. Liechtenstein, Samm- sterdam, Rijksmuseum-Stichting Iungen des Regierenden Fiirsten 41. P. P. Rubens, Achilles Instructed by 29. P. P. Rubens, The Consecration of Chiron. Rotterdam, Museum Boy- Decius Mus. Liechtenstein, Samm- mans-van Beuningen Iungen des Regierenden Fiirsten 42.. Consiliarii Principum, from A. Al- 30. P. P. Rubens, The Death of Decius ciati Emblemata (Padua, 1621), no. Mus, detail. Liechtenstein, Samm- 146. Rare Book Division, Special lungen des Regierenden Fiirsten Collections, University of Virginia 31. P. P. Rubens, The Obsequies of De­ Library ems Mus. Liechtenstein, Samrn- 43. P. P. Rubens, The Death of Achilles. lungen des Regierenden Fiirsten Rotterdam, Museum Boymans-van 32. P. P. Rubens, Ceiling of the Banquet­ Beuningen ing House, Whitehall. (Royal Com­ 44. P. P. Rubens, The Apotheosis of Her­ mission on the Historical Monu­ cules. Brussels, Musees Royaux des ments of England) Beaux-Arts .