[Act XII] Calisto spreect. · Centre for Early Modern Visual Culture

Title: [Act XII] Calisto spreect.
Subject: Spanish romances; Melibea (Fictitious character); Calisto (Fictitious character); Sempronio (Fictitious character); Pármeno (Fictitious character); Lucrecia (Fictitious character); Ladders; Love; Hats; Swords; Robes; Veils; Servants
Period: 1600-1650;
Geographic: Belgium; Antwerp (Belgium); Spanish Netherlands
Description: As the clock approaches midnight, Calisto leaves for Melibea’s house. He is joined by Sempronio and Pármeno, who stand guard while he speaks with Melibea through the door of her house. As he is exchanging passionate words with her, Sempronio and Pármeno overhear a noise in the street and flee, leaving Calisto unguarded. When they realize that the noise is coming from the alguacil’s men (the ‘night watch’) patrolling another street, they return to their post. However, the alguacil’s men eventually enter upon Melibea’s street, forcing Calisto and his servants to flee. To the left of the image we see Calisto, with a sword mounted on his belt, climbing a ladder. Sempronio and Pármeno stand behind him with swords and shields. To the right we see Melibea and Lucrecia looking out from a window. Both of them are wearing a robe and a veil. They seem to be making eye contract with Calisto, though perspective would make this impossible.This illustration is out of place in this act. Calisto does not climb a ladder to enter Melibea’s garden until the following day, after Sempronio and Pármeno have already been executed. I suspect that the use of this illustration (in place of the more relevant 1580 Antwerp edition illustration) may be a consequence of the 1580 woodblock being misplaced or destroyed in the intervening 36 years.The entire image is identical to those found on pages 209 and 255 of the text.
Image Creator: Anonymous (Engraver);Heyndric Heyndricz (Printer); Anonymous (Engraver); Heyndric Heyndricz (Printer)
Type: StillImage; (Wood?) Engraving
Identifier: mta:18260
Source Name: Celestina, Een Tragicomedie van Calisto ende Melibea, inde welcke staen veel profijtelijcke sententien oft spreecwoorden, ende veel nootzakelijcke waerschouwinghen, byzonder voor Jonghe-ghezellen, betoonende het groot bedroch vande Pluym-strijckers, van de ontrouwe Dienaers, ende voor al van de Koppelerssen en̄ lichte Vrouwē.
Parent Collection: 1616 Antwerp Heyndricz; 1616 Antwerp Heyndricz
Image: mta_18260_OBJ.jpg
Collection: Celestina
Subject: Spanish romances; Melibea (Fictitious character); Calisto (Fictitious character); Sempronio (Fictitious character); Pármeno (Fictitious character); Lucrecia (Fictitious character); Ladders; Love; Hats; Swords; Robes; Veils; Servants

Media: mta_18260_OBJ.jpg