Christophe Butkens (1590–1650) was a Cistercian abbot from
Antwerp, a historian and a genealogist who developed a new
hatching system
Hatching (sometimes called ''hachure'', from the French word) is a conventional system for monochrome denotation of heraldic armory, whereby the tinctures (colours) are represented by dots and lines. This technique is employed in cases where col ...
.
Hatching systems
Butkens developed his own hatching system but he himself used it in an inconsistent way, leading to misunderstandings. It quickly passed out of use in favour of other systems. His hatching method was published in the book ''Annales genealogiques de la maison de Lynden'' (Antwerp, 1626), which has been seen as flagrant in falsifying the
van Lynden genealogy, as shown by Baron van Linden in 1891. However, his later work is seen as authentic. According to
Philipp Spener
Philipp Jakob Spener (23 January 1635 – 5 February 1705), was a German Lutheran theologian who essentially founded what would become to be known as Pietism. He was later dubbed the "Father of Pietism". A prolific writer, his two main works, '' ...
some maintained that Butkens was the first to invent a heraldic hatching system, but others gave that honour to
Marcus Vulson de la Colombière
Marc Vulson de la Colombière (†1658) or Sieur de la Colombière was a French heraldist, historian, poet, minion of the royal court. His name is sometimes spelt as Wulson and also as Volson.
He published several highly successful books on symbol ...
.
["De Authore non omnes idem sentiunt: Alii Christophoro de Butkens adscribunt inventionem, qui ab anno 1626 ea usus est, alii M Vulsonio de la Colombiere hoc honoris tributum malunt." ''Insignium theoria: seu operis heraldici pars generalis'', vol. 1, second edition, Frankfurt, 1735, p. 113.]
Butkens was one of the two censors (the other being
Henricus Calenus
Henricus Calenus or Henri van Caelen (1583–1653) was a clergyman in the Spanish Netherlands, closely involved in the early history of Jansenism.
Career
Born in 1583 at Beringen (in the county of Loon), Henri was the son of Jan van Caelen, a l ...
) who approved publication of
Juan Caramuel Lobkowitz's treatise ''Declaración Mystica de las Armas de España'' (Brussels,
Lucas van Meerbeeck, 1636), which contains an alternative hatching system.
Works
* ''Annales genealogiques de la maison de Lynden''. Antwerp, 1626
* ''Trophées tant sacrés que prophanes de la duché de Brabant. Tome I. Contenant l'origine, succession et descendance des ducs et princes de ceste maison avec leurs actions plus signalées, ensemble des genealogies de plusieurs ducs, princes, comtes, barons, seigneurs et nobles, leur vassals et subiects avec les preuves servantes à entiere verification...'', Antwerp, 1641.
Frontispiece engraved by
Mattheus Borrekens
Mattheus Borrekens or Mattheus BorkensAlso referred to as Mattias Boerrekens and Capiteyn Matthias Borckens ( Antwerp, baptized on 7 July 1615 – Antwerp, 25 December 1670) was a Flemish engraver, printmaker and draughtsman. after the drawing of
Abraham van Diepenbeeck. Another edition: F. C. Butkens, ''Trophées tant sacrés et profanes du Duché de Brabant.'' 1724-1726
See also
*
Hatching system
Hatching (sometimes called ''hachure'', from the French word) is a conventional system for monochrome denotation of heraldic armory, whereby the tinctures (colours) are represented by dots and lines. This technique is employed in cases where col ...
*
Jan Baptist Zangrius
*
Thomas de Rouck
References
{{Authority control
Heraldists
Clergy from Antwerp
1590 births
1650 deaths
Abbots of the Spanish Netherlands