Loading AI tools
Two 17th century printers in Brussels From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jan Mommaert was the name of two 17th-century printers in Brussels, father (active 1585–1627) and son (active 1646–1669). Between the dates of their activity, Martine van Straeten operated a printing house under the name Widow of Jan Mommaert.
Jan Mommaert | |
|---|---|
 Decorative feature from a Mommaert imprint | |
| Occupation(s) | printer and bookseller |
| Years active | 1585–1627 |
| Era | handpress |
| Organization | City of Brussels |
| Notable work | Descriptio et explicatio pegmatum, arcuum et spectaculorum (1594) |
| Spouse | Martine van Straeten |
| Children | Jan (II) Mommaert (1611–1669) |
The elder Mommaert began his printing business in Brussels in 1585, his first known publication being the terms of the city's surrender to Alexander Farnese, Duke of Parma: Articulen ende conditien vanden tractate aengegaen ende ghesloten tusschen die Prince van Parma ende de stadt van Bruessele.
In 1594 he printed a brief but richly illustrated account of the festive reception in Brussels of the new governor general, Archduke Ernest of Austria: Descriptio et explicatio pegmatum, arcuum et spectaculorum, quae Bruxellae Brabantiae pridie calendas februarii anno MDXCIIII exhibita fuere, sub ingressum serenissimi principis Ernesti (available on Google Books).
His shop was called simply De Druckerye ("The printing shop") and stood in the Stoofstraat behind Brussels Town Hall. Much of his printing was of the decrees of the city council.
His printing mark was a hooded falcon with the motto Post tenebras spero lucem (After darkness I hope for light).
After Jan Mommaert the elder's death, probably in 1627, Martine van Straeten continued the family business under the name "Widow of Jan Mommaert". In 1631 she was in trouble with the authorities for publishing papal bulls without government permission, but she was pardoned on 16 September 1631.[1]
In 1635 she printed the news pamphlet Nieuwe tydinghen uyt verscheyden quartieren van Europa, ghekomen tot Brussel tzedert den 18. tot den 23. Julii 1635 (New tidings from various parts of Europe, come to Brussels since the 18 to 23 July 1635), which might be an issue of an otherwise lost newspaper.
The younger Jan Mommaert (1611–1669) was not only a printer but also a poet. He produced a much reprinted compilation of amorous, pastoral and burlesque lyrics, some of them his own work, under the title Het Brabands nachtegaelken (first edition 1650). His other poetic works are Stichtelyck ende vermakelyck proces (1658) and Den Christelycken dagh (1658).
He served terms on the city council in 1654, 1660 and 1666.
Seamless Wikipedia browsing. On steroids.
Every time you click a link to Wikipedia, Wiktionary or Wikiquote in your browser's search results, it will show the modern Wikiwand interface.
Wikiwand extension is a five stars, simple, with minimum permission required to keep your browsing private, safe and transparent.
