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Original fileHeilige Reginaldus ontvangt de bisschopsambt van Spier
About This Work
The print shows the humble monk Reginald, identified by his halo and simple habit, being approached by men in contemporary 17th-century dress who offer him the symbols of high ecclesiastical office. Reginald appears hesitant, while a fellow monk stands behind him holding a tall crosier against the backdrop of a large stone cathedral. The scene emphasizes the saint's humility and his preference for monastic life over worldly power.
Engraved by Aegidius Sadeler, the principal artist at the court of Emperor Rudolf II in Prague, this work reflects the era's fascination with 'sympathy' and natural forces. The accompanying Latin verse uses the 'Magnesian rock' (magnetism) as a metaphor for spiritual attraction, a concept central to the Neoplatonic and natural philosophical interests of the Rudolfine circle.
Inscriptions(Latin)
S. REGINALDVS EPISCOPVS SPIRENSIS. Odit quaerentes, fugientes GLORIA quaerit; Vt sequitur corpus, corpus ut vmbra Fugit; Vnde tibi surgunt tot REGINALDE tiarae? Cui gravis omnis apex, est honor omnis onus; Scilicet vt Ferrum ducit Magnesia cautes, Mitrarum titulos sic tua vita trahit. Rhaetia, Boia, Nemes tua praesul nomina poscunt Nomina dum spernis plurima, plura capis.
Translation
SAINT REGINALD, BISHOP OF SPEYER. Glory hates those who seek her, but seeks those who flee; As the body follows its shadow, so the shadow flees the body; Whence, O REGINALD, do so many tiaras arise for you? For you, to whom every summit is heavy, every honor a burden; Just as the Magnet stone draws iron rocks, So your life attracts the titles of mitres. Rhaetia, Bavaria, and Speyer demand your name as prelate, While you scorn many titles, you receive even more.
Connected Texts
Rudolf II, Holy Roman Emperor
Aegidius Sadeler was the official court engraver in Prague, where he produced works reflecting the Emperor's interests in natural philosophy and Hermeticism.
Collections
Provenance & Source
Object
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
paper
width 156 mm x height 220 mm
religious
Linked Data
AI AI-cataloged fields generated by gemini-3-flash-preview on April 2, 2026. Getty identifiers are AI-inferred and may require verification.