Author: Philippus Louijssen
Title: [Nieuwjaarswensch / New Year Wishes, Wish card, 1646] Louijssen. Ik wensch VE: bij desen mijn Vader en Moeder... [New Year's card] 1646, 1 p.
Description: New Year's wishes to his father and mother. In the national archive in The Hague there is only one Louijssen that matches the period, Cornelis Louijssen of Schouwen, Southern Netherlands. [This Cornelis was accused in 1647 of the death of Jean Fontaine: by throwing a tin glass to his head, Cornelis made Fontaine fall from the stairs. Because of the injuries the latter died a couple of days later. The document testifies the end of the prison time of Louijssen in 1652, following a letter asking for his remission.] We cannot be sure if Philippus had some relationship with Cornelis, further archival research is needed. Some calligraphic elements have been designed to decorate the manuscript as a frame to the actual text of the card. On the bottom especially, on the left and on the right, two animal-like figures enclose the signature and the date of the letter: 'VE Dienst Willingen Soon / Philippus Louijssen: / 1646.' The wishes begin with the dedication: 'Ik wensch VE: bij desen mijn Vader en Moeder eer baer / geluk en Voorsyoet in delen Nieuwe Jaer / trecht ghelog in Jesum Christus Verheven / het welck Godt u en ons allen wil geven. [...]'. Other two couplets follow, one in nine lines and the latter in eight, plus clausa. Brown ink on paper, stains and foxing. Foldings making paper very fragile, damages along the margins, tears on the folds. On the verso the addressee and some notes (numbers and sums) probably due to reuse of the paper, very likely later than the composition. Tape in the middle of the page on the verso, probably to repair a tear or hole. Total: 422 x 327 mm

Keywords: Calligraphy|New Year and Christmas wishes