Jan Moretus, also John Moerentorf or Joannes Moretus (2 May 1543 – 22 September 1610), was a

Flemish Flemish (''Vlaams'') is a Low Franconian dialect cluster of the Dutch language. It is sometimes referred to as Flemish Dutch (), Belgian Dutch ( ), or Southern Dutch (). Flemish is native to Flanders, a historical region in northern Belgium; ...

printer who was an apprentice for

Christophe Plantin Christophe Plantin ( nl, Christoffel Plantijn; – 1 July 1589) was a French Renaissance humanist and book printer and publisher who resided and worked in Antwerp. Life Plantin was born in France, probably in Saint-Avertin, near the city of ...

, married his daughter, and later inherited the printing business on his father-in-law's death.

Biography

Moretus was born in

Antwerp Antwerp (; nl, Antwerpen ; french: Anvers ; es, Amberes) is the largest city in Belgium by area at and the capital of Antwerp Province in the Flemish Region. With a population of 520,504,

, the son of satin-weaver Jacob Mourentorf and Adriana Gras, daughter of Pieter Gras, a silk-weaver from Milan. He began working for publisher

in 1557, when he was 14 years of age. He worked in Venice, starting around 1562 to 1563, and then returned to Plantin's business in Antwerp by 1565. In 1570, he married

Martina Plantin Martina Plantin (1550–1616) was involved in her father's printing business from five years of age, and ran the family lace shop from the age of 17. After her father and husband had died, she was the head of the Plantin Press, Plantin-Moretus pr ...

, the second daughter of the publisher. Christophe wrote a letter on 5 November 1570 to Gabriel de Çayas (secretary to

Philip II of Spain Philip II) in Spain, while in Portugal and his Italian kingdoms he ruled as Philip I ( pt, Filipe I). (21 May 152713 September 1598), also known as Philip the Prudent ( es, Felipe el Prudente), was King of Spain from 1556, King of Portugal from ...

) about his new son-in-law: After Christophe Plantin's death, Jan Moretus became the owner of the

Plantin Press The Plantin Press at Antwerp was one of the focal centers of the fine printed book in the 16th century. History Christophe Plantin (c. 1520–1589) of Touraine was trained as a bookbinder. He fled from Paris where at least one printer had rece ...

printing company. Under his management, the company focused on 12mo format for text books, doing away with the smaller handbook (

enchiridion Enchiridion is a small manual or handbook. It can refer more specifically to: * ''Enchiridion of Epictetus'', a short manual of Stoic ethical advice * The ''Enchiridion de metris'' of Hephaestion, an ancient treatise on poetic meters * ''Enchiridi ...

) favored under his predecessor. His wife, considered a formidable businesswoman from the wealthy bourgeoisie, ran Plantin Press from 1610 to 1614. Plantin, through her marriage to Moretus, was considered to be the head of the printing dynasty that lasted for more than three centuries. Her sons, Balthasar and

Jan Jan, JaN or JAN may refer to: Acronyms * Jackson, Mississippi (Amtrak station), US, Amtrak station code JAN * Jackson-Evers International Airport, Mississippi, US, IATA code * Jabhat al-Nusra (JaN), a Syrian militant group * Japanese Article Num ...

, inherited the printing business and bookshop.

Projects

Some of the notable projects published by Moretus include

Benito Arias Montano Benito Arias Montano (or Benedictus Arias Montanus; 1527–1598) was a Spanish orientalist and polymath that was active mostly in Spain. He was also editor of the '' Antwerp Polyglot''. He reached the high rank of Royal Chaplain to King Philip II ...

's ''Anima'', an eight-book series detailing the history of humanity from the Creation through its regeneration with Christ's birth. He has also collaborated with theologians in the publication of religious texts. For example, he worked with the Flemish scholar

Henricus Sedulius Henricus Sedulius (1547-1621) – the Latinized name of Henri de Vroom van Kleef – was a Belgian Franciscan scholar noted for his works on religious figures such as the lives of St. Elziarius and St. Francis of Assisi. He also published works t ...

during the publication of

Bonaventure Bonaventure ( ; it, Bonaventura ; la, Bonaventura de Balneoregio; 1221 – 15 July 1274), born Giovanni di Fidanza, was an Italian Catholic Franciscan, bishop, cardinal, scholastic theologian and philosopher. The seventh Minister G ...

's ''The Life of St. Francis'' (''De vita s. patris Francisci''). Moretus' works and archives are held in the

Plantin-Moretus Museum The Plantin-Moretus Museum ( nl, Plantin-Moretusmuseum) is a printing museum in Antwerp, Belgium which focuses on the work of the 16th-century printers Christophe Plantin and Jan Moretus. It is located in their former residence and printing establ ...

in Antwerp.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Moretus, Jan People from Antwerp Flemish printers 1543 births 1610 deaths 16th-century printers 17th-century printers Book publishers (people) of the Spanish Netherlands