Simon Frisius - New Hollstein Dutch

Simon Frisius (c. 1580 Harlingen-1628 The Hague), perhaps little recognised now, was a prolific etcher and engraver who received great praise from contemporaries for his print­making skills. In the introduction to his important manual on the techniques of etching, Abraham Bosse cited Frisius first, before Matheus Merian and Jacques Callot, as the etcher to whom he was most indebted. Frisius was also highly sought after for his talent as an engraver of calligraphy books by such writers as Jan van de Velde I, the author of the most important calligraphy book of the day, Spieghel der Schrijkonste (1605). Frisius's career as a printmaker can be divided into two main parts. He began in France, Rouen and then Paris, where he engraved books of calligraphy.


He returned to Holland, and although he engraved several calligraphy books there as well, he became much more productive as an etcher of reproductive prints in Amsterdam and The Hague. His manner of etching is elegant, and his subjects run the gamut from large panoramas of cities, landscapes, religious, historical, and mythological subjects, as well as portraits. He eventually gave up print­making altogether in order to become a businessman. The lively and elegant prints that bear his name were catalogued in volume VII in the Hollstein series and only partially illustrated. The New Hollstein volume on Frisius will include unsigned works that can be attributed to him, a catalogue, and full illustrations of his prints, including all of his contributions to series and books. This volume of The New Hollstein will shed new light on this once renowned etcher.

Compiled by Nadine M. Orenstein

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