Artwork

Vignette for the Title Page of C. Peregrino, Principes Hollandiae et Zelandiae

Vignette for the Title Page of C. Peregrino, Principes Hollandiae et Zelandiae is an ink print by the Baroque artist Christoffel Jegher. It dates from 1632 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Christoffel Jegher’s woodcut, dated 1632, serves as the decorative vignette for the title page of the travel narrative *C. Peregrino, Principes Hollandiae et Zelandiae*. Executed on laid paper, the print functions as a proof element, illustrating the book’s opening with a densely composed, allegorical scene.

Subject & Meaning

The composition presents two partially rendered figures whose heads emerge from the margins while their bodies dissolve into intertwining vines and animal forms. A serene rooster occupies the central foreground, and a bird perched on an ornate vase crowns the upper space, accompanied by the Latin terms *Nocte* and *Incubando* that arc above, suggesting themes of night and incubation.

Technique & Style

Jegher employed traditional woodcut methods, carving each line directly into a wooden block without the aid of color. The print’s intricate linear network creates a dense, almost surreal visual texture, characteristic of early‑17th‑century Dutch printmaking that favored elaborate ornamental designs for book frontispieces.

History & Provenance

Created as a proof for the 1632 edition of the Dutch–Zealandic travel account, the vignette reflects the period’s practice of commissioning specialized printmakers for title‑page embellishments. The work remains in the collection of the original publication’s archives, offering insight into the collaborative production of early modern travel literature.