Wierix family

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Three Beached Whales, by Johannes Wierix

The Wierix family, sometimes seen in alternative spellings such as Wiericx, were a

printmakers and draughtsmen in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. They were active in Antwerp and Brussels
.

The first generation of engravers consisted of the three sons of the little-known painter and cabinet maker Anton Wierix I :

Anton II's son, Anton III Wierix (1596–1624), completes the engraver members of the family, although his early death prevented him from producing a large oeuvre.[1] All were highly productive, with 2,333 prints catalogued between them, the largest number by Johannes.[2] The Wierix family members were known for their attention to detail and superb technique.

Lives

Philip William of Orange
, by Johannes Wierix

Johannes and Hieronymus appear to have begun training together, and although Hieronymus was the younger by four years he was able to keep pace with his brother.

Christopher Plantin in Antwerp. Hieronymus was first paid by Plantin in 1570, and they both joined the Antwerp artists' Guild of Saint Luke in 1572/3.[3]

Johannes probably trained Anton II, and Hieronymus, Anton III. The brothers often worked together, but Johannes moved to Delft from 1577–79, probably as a result of the Sack of Antwerp in 1576, also known as the Spanish Fury. He then returned to Antwerp for nearly 20 years – perhaps his best period – and moved briefly to The Hague before settling in Brussels at about the turn of the century, where he remained until his death.[5]

The brothers were recorded as Lutherans in 1585, but as they later did a large amount of work for the

Jesuits
, it seems probable they converted or reconverted to Catholicism after this date.

All three, but especially Hieronymus, were described by contemporaries as leading disorderly lives, and had long criminal records, mostly for drunkenness and the like, but Hieronymus spent several months in prison in 1579-80 for an accidentally fatal drunken assault on a female tavernkeeper.

Michiel Jansz van Mierevelt began his training with Hieronymus, although he soon moved to another master. The father of Samuel Dirksz van Hoogstraten was another pupil of Hieronymus. Johannes' pupils included Hendrik Hondius I (1573 – c. 1650).[7]
After Anton II died relatively young in 1604, Hieronymus took over his plates and his young son Anton III. Anton III's death at an even younger age brought an end to the family business, although at least one of the brothers' many daughters married an engraver.

Work

Scenes from the Life of the Virgin from the Adnotationes illustrations, 1593. Nativity of Mary left rear, Meeting of Mary and Elizabeth, foreground.

The brothers all worked for a number of publishers, but also published their own prints, in total nearly half their output: Hieronymus published about 650 prints himself, Johannes 325 and Anton II 125.

Hendrik Goltzius
and other Dutch engravers, and they produced few works of this sort.

Their association with the Jesuits began with the illustrations for the Adnotationes et Meditationes in Evangelia, a project initiated by the order's founder, St.

iconography of local artists.[12] Further work for the Jesuits followed.[13]
Hieronymus in particular came to specialize in small religious scenes.

Apart from religious works the Wierixs became "the leading purveyors of small-scale printed portraits in the Netherlands", although only Johannes appears to have made drawings from the life, and most of his portraits are copied from paintings, drawings or prints by others (very often of international figures).[14] Some of Johannes' drawings were made to be engraved, but others were sold as finished objects. The British Museum has 44, including 19 illustrating the Book of Genesis, and a large composition of Diana surprised by Actaeon. Most are on vellum.[15]

Notes

  1. ^ ULAN entries
  2. ^ Keyes, 106, referring to M. Mauquoy-Henrickx's catalogue of 1978–83.
  3. ^ a b c Keyes, 106
  4. ^ Hind, 122
  5. ^ Google books
  6. ^ Grove [1], Keyes & Hind. op & pp. cit
  7. Hendrik Hondius II
    .
  8. ^ Bowen, 352. Google books
  9. ^ Bowen, 354
  10. ^ google books Chipps Smith, pp. 41ff
  11. ISBN 0-7425-3815-X
    , 9780742538153
  12. ^ Google books Ethiopian Art, Walters Art Gallery, p. 64, with more detail here
  13. ^ Another series of 75 plates Fr Paul Begheyn SJ, 2001. 'Lasting Impressions', Company, vol. 19, No.1.
  14. ISBN 9780300115802 Google books
  15. ^ British Museum main list, Diana surprised by Actaeon

References

Further reading

  • Mauquoy-Hendrickx, Marie, Les Estampes des Wierix, 4 vols., 1983. (Full title:Les estampes des Wierix conservées au cabinet des estampes de la Bibliothèque Royale Albert Ier: Catalogue raisonné, enrichi de notes prises dans diverses autres collections; Text in French),
    ISBN 1-55660-225-1
  • New Hollstein series. Several volumes 2003-7

External links

  • online Bryan's Dictionary of Painters and Engravers, Biographical and Critical has some more details & lists works held especially fine in the 19th century.
  • British Museum online database has 1,217 items for Wierix, 264 with images.
  • San Francisco Museums 264 items online
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