Jan Moretus, also John Moerentorf or Joannes Moretus (2 May 1543 – 22 September 1610), was a Flemish printer who was an apprentice for

Christophe Plantin Christophe Plantin (; – 1 July 1589) was a French Renaissance humanist and book Printer (publisher), printer and publisher who resided and worked in Antwerp. He established in Antwerp one of the most prominent publishing houses of his time, th ...

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

Biography

Moretus was born in

Antwerp Antwerp (; ; ) is a City status in Belgium, city and a Municipalities of Belgium, municipality in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is the capital and largest city of Antwerp Province, and the third-largest city in Belgium by area at , after ...

, 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, 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 (21 May 152713 September 1598), sometimes known in Spain as Philip the Prudent (), was King of Spain from 1556, King of Portugal from 1580, and King of Naples and List of Sicilian monarchs, Sicily from 1554 until his death in 1598. He ...

) about his new son-in-law: After Christophe Plantin's death, Jan Moretus became the owner of the Plantin Press printing company. Under his management, the company focused on 12mo format for text books, doing away with the smaller handbook ( enchiridion) 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, inherited the printing business and bookshop.

Projects

Some of the notable projects published by Moretus include Benito Arias Montano'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 during the publication of

Bonaventure Bonaventure ( ; ; ; born Giovanni di Fidanza; 1221 – 15 July 1274) was an Italian Catholic Franciscan bishop, Cardinal (Catholic Church), cardinal, Scholasticism, scholastic theologian and philosopher. The seventh Minister General ( ...

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

References

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