Huygens: lost – regained – revised. De literair-historische receptie van Constantijn Huygens in de eerste helft van de 19e eeuw

Abstract

Huygens: lost ‒ regained ‒ revised. De literair-historische receptievan Constantijn Huygens in de eerste helftvan de 19e eeuwFrom the beginning of professional Dutch Studies M. Siegenbeek’s inauguration as professor elo­quentiae hollandicae extraordinarius, 1797 the 17th century Dutch writers P.C. Hooft and Joost van den Vondel are present in Dutch literary studies and literary historiography. The position of ConstantijnHuygens, whom the contemporary literary scholars also include in the Grote Vijf Great Five of the 17th-century Dutch literature besides Vondel, Hooft, Cats and Bredero, was gradually changing dur­ing the 19th century. This article postulates that the reception of Huygens in literary historiography of the first half of the 19th century can be divided into three phases. In the first phase Huygens’ works practically disappeared from the Dutch literary landscape. The second phase encompasses growing interest for Huygens as an important historical figure. In the third phase it is possible to observe a shift in critical reception of Huygens: from Huygens as a historical person to Huygens as a poet.