BESSE, Pierre de. L' Héraclite chrestien c'est a dire les regrets & les larmes du pêcheur penitent. 1612.

First edition.
Pierre de Besse, preacher from the beginning of the 17th century was inspired by the Greek philosopher Heraclitus, whose legend, peddled by Diogenes Laerce, said that he was perpetually in tears in front of the fate of men to draw from it a Christian Heraclitus desperate for the sins of the Men.
He will publish 3 years later the "Christian Democrite" showing a hilarious Democrite in front of the world as it is.

These two books did a lot to popularize the archetypes of a weeping Heraclitus and a laughing Democritus, which can be found in many works of art throughout the 17th century. One thinks in particular of the "Weeping Philosopher" of Rubens painted around 1636, or the Democrites of Velasquez and Rembrandt.

Engravings by Leonard Gaultier, famous french painter.