Link to an image of this page [Q7r f114r]
EMBLEMA CLXXXII [=181] .
Impossibile.
The impossible
Abluis Aethyopem quid frustra? ah desine, noctis
Illustrare nigrae nemo potest tenebras.[1]
Why are you washing an Ethiopian in vain? Oh, do stop. No one can turn the shades of black night into light.
Link to an image of this page [Q7v f114v]
Das CLXXXII [=181] .
Vergebne Arbeit.
Was badt sein Moren lang umb sunst?
Hör auff es ist verlorn all Kunst
Dann niemand der duncklen Nacht kan
Dick Finsternuß erleuchten thon.
1. This is a translation of Anthologia graeca 11.428. See also Aesop, Fables 11; Erasmus, Adagia 350, Aethiopen lavas.
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Relating to the image:
- water (one of the four elements) [21D] Search | Browse Iconclass
- groups of plants (herbs) [25G13] Search | Browse Iconclass
- leaning forward [31A2321] Search | Browse Iconclass
- sitting on an elevation [31A2352] Search | Browse Iconclass
- head bent forward; bowing (+ standing) [31A244(+51)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- head bent forward; bowing [31A2445] Search | Browse Iconclass
- stretched forward (+ holding something) [31A2512(+933)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- gripping someone by the arm [31A2541] Search | Browse Iconclass
- standing with legs bent, side by side [31A26121] Search | Browse Iconclass
- brush, sponge, etc. (toilet articles) [31A5462] Search | Browse Iconclass
- towel [31A5463] Search | Browse Iconclass
- arm stretched sidewards - AA - both arms or hands [31AA2513] Search | Browse Iconclass
- washing and bathing - AA - in the open air [31AA54] Search | Browse Iconclass
- looking downwards [31B6212] Search | Browse Iconclass
- adult man (+ three persons) [31D14(+73)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- adult man (+ nude human being) [31D14(+89)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- white races and peoples (+ men) [32B31(+51)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- African negroes (with NAME) (+ men) [32B321(ETHIOPIAN)(+51)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- African negroes (with NAME) [32B321(MOOR)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- well [41A3911] Search | Browse Iconclass
- courtyard [41A51] Search | Browse Iconclass
- container of ceramics: jar, jug, pot, vase [41A773] Search | Browse Iconclass
- head-gear [41D221] Search | Browse Iconclass
- clothing for the upper part of the body (+ men's clothes) [41D223(+81)] Search | Browse Iconclass
- trousers, breeches (+ men's clothes) [41D231(+81)] Search | Browse Iconclass
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- man (showing himself) undressed, quasi-nude [41D91] Search | Browse Iconclass
Relating to the text:
- (personifications of) 'Vanitas', the vanity of human life; Fragilit� humana, Fugacit� delle grandezze & della gloria mondana, Meditatione della morte, Opera vana, Piacere vano, Vana gloria, Vanit� (Ripa) [11R5] Search | Browse Iconclass
- day and night [23R] Search | Browse Iconclass
- Impossibility (+ emblematical representation of concept) [52BB42(+4)] Search | Browse Iconclass
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