Matthäus Merian der Ältere (or "Matthew", "the Elder", or "Sr."; 22 September 1593 – 19 June 1650) was a Swiss-born engraver who worked in Frankfurt for most of his career, where he also ran a publishing house. He was a member of the patrician Basel Merian family.
Engraving of Matthäus Merian
Frankfurt ca. 1612; engraving by Matthäus Merian
The castle and the town of Regensberg in Topographia Helvetiae, 1645.
Gustav II Adolf in Polish 'delia' coat, painting by Matthäus Merian, 1632.
Born in Basel, Merian learned the art of copperplate engraving in Zürich. He next worked and studied in Strasbourg, Nancy, and Paris, before returning to Basel in 1615. The following year he moved to Oppenheim, Germany where he worked for the publisher Johann Theodor de Bry, who was the son of renowned engraver and traveler Theodor de Bry.
In 1617, Merian married Maria Magdalena de Bry, daughter of the publisher, and was for a time associated with the de Bry publishing house. In 1620, when Oppenheim was destroyed by fire during the Spanish occupation, they moved back to Basel, but three years later returned to Germany, this time to Frankfurt. They had four daughters and three sons, including Matthäus Merian the Younger. Maria Magdalena de Bry died in 1645 and the following year Matthäus married Johanna Sibylla Heim.[1] Five years later, Matthäus died, leaving his wife with two small children, Anna Maria Sibylla Merian (born 1647), who later became a pioneering naturalist and illustrator, and a son, Maximilian, who died before his third birthday.
Later career
In 1623 Merian took over the publishing house of his father-in-law after de Bry's death. In 1626 he became a citizen of Frankfurt and could henceforth work as an independent publisher. He spent most of his working life in Frankfurt.
Early in his life, he had created detailed town plans in his unique style, e.g. a plan of Basel (1615) and a plan of Paris (1615). With Martin Zeiler (1589–1661), a German geographer, and later (circa 1640) with his own son, Matthäus Merian (der Jüngere, i.e. "the Younger" or "Jr.") (1621–1687), he produced a series of Topographia. The 21-volume set was collectively known as the Topographia Germaniae. It includes numerous town plans and views, as well as maps of most countries and a World Map—it was such a popular work that it was re-issued in many editions. He also took over and completed the later parts and editions of the Grand Voyages and Petits Voyages, originally started by de Bry in 1590 and included volumes India Orientalis and America Occidentalis.
He was also noted for the finesse of his alchemical illustrations, in books such as the Musaeum Hermeticum (1678) and Atalanta Fugiens (1618). He undertook the engravings for the encyclopaedic work of insect natural history De Serpentibus, compiled by John Jonston. This tradition would be taken up by his daughter.
After his death, his sons Matthäus Jr. and Caspar took over the publishing house. They continued publishing the Topographia Germaniae and the Theatrum Europaeum under the name Merian Erben (i.e. Merian Heirs).
Lucas Heinrich Wüthrich: Das druckgraphische Werk von Matthäus Merian d.Ä.. vol.1 and 2: Basel 1966, vol.3 Hamburg 1993, vol.4: Hamburg 1996.
Catalog zu Ausstellungen im Museum für Kunsthandwerk Franckfurt am Mayn (15. September – 7. November 1993) und im Kunstmuseum Basel (27. November 1993 – 13. Februar 1994) als unsterblich Ehren-Gedächtnis zum 400. Geburtstag des hochberühmten Delineatoris (Zeichners), Incisoris (Stechers) et Editoris (Verlegers) Matthaeus Merian des Aelteren. Museum für Kunsthandwerk, Frankfurt am Main 1993, ISBN3-88270-065-3.
Ulrike Valeria Fuss: Matthaeus Merian der Ältere. Von der lieblichen Landschaft zum Kriegsschauplatz – Landschaft als Kulisse des 30jährigen Krieges. Frankfurt am Main, 2000, ISBN3-631-35558-0.
Jörg Diefenbacher: Die Schwalbacher Reise. Mannheim 2002, ISBN3-00-008209-3.
Ulrike Valeria Fuss: Momentaufnahme und Monumentalansicht. Ein Vergleich zwischen Valentin Wagner und Matthäus Merian d. Ä. In: Valentin Wagner (um 1610–1655): Ein Zeichner im Dreißigjährigen Krieg. Aufsätze und Werkkatalog. Darmstadt 2003, ISBN3-921254-92-2.
Lucas Heinrich Wüthrich: Matthaeus Merian d. Ä. Eine Biographie. Hoffmann und Campe, Hamburg 2007 (Lizenzausgabe: Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft, Darmstadt 2007)
Götz J. Pfeiffer: Bild-Zeitung und Moral-Büchlein - der Dreissigjährige Krieg in Druckgraphiken von Matthäus Merian und Abraham Hogenberg, Jacques Callot und Hans Ulrich Franck, in: Der Dreissigjährige Krieg in Hanau und Umgebung, hrsg. vom Hanauer Geschichtsverein, Hanau, 2011, pp. 255–275.
External links
Media related to Matthäus Merian at Wikimedia Commons
Works by Matthäus Merian, Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
, 1633 map by Matthäus Merian, Portal to Texas History, University of Texas
Merian maps and engravings
January 26, 2023
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This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations January 2017 Learn how and when to remove this template message Matthaus Merian der Altere or Matthew the Elder or Sr 22 September 1593 19 June 1650 was a Swiss born engraver who worked in Frankfurt for most of his career where he also ran a publishing house He was a member of the patrician Basel Merian family Engraving of Matthaus Merian Frankfurt ca 1612 engraving by Matthaus Merian The castle and the town of Regensberg in Topographia Helvetiae 1645 Gustav II Adolf in Polish delia coat painting by Matthaus Merian 1632 Alchemical illustration Musaeum Hermeticum 1678 Discursus XXXI Epigramma XXXI from Atalanta Fugiens 1618 Contents 1 Biography 1 1 Early life and marriage 1 2 Later career 2 See also 3 References 4 Further reading 5 External linksBiography EditEarly life and marriage Edit Born in Basel Merian learned the art of copperplate engraving in Zurich He next worked and studied in Strasbourg Nancy and Paris before returning to Basel in 1615 The following year he moved to Oppenheim Germany where he worked for the publisher Johann Theodor de Bry who was the son of renowned engraver and traveler Theodor de Bry In 1617 Merian married Maria Magdalena de Bry daughter of the publisher and was for a time associated with the de Bry publishing house In 1620 when Oppenheim was destroyed by fire during the Spanish occupation they moved back to Basel but three years later returned to Germany this time to Frankfurt They had four daughters and three sons including Matthaus Merian the Younger Maria Magdalena de Bry died in 1645 and the following year Matthaus married Johanna Sibylla Heim 1 Five years later Matthaus died leaving his wife with two small children Anna Maria Sibylla Merian born 1647 who later became a pioneering naturalist and illustrator and a son Maximilian who died before his third birthday Later career Edit In 1623 Merian took over the publishing house of his father in law after de Bry s death In 1626 he became a citizen of Frankfurt and could henceforth work as an independent publisher He spent most of his working life in Frankfurt Early in his life he had created detailed town plans in his unique style e g a plan of Basel 1615 and a plan of Paris 1615 With Martin Zeiler 1589 1661 a German geographer and later circa 1640 with his own son Matthaus Merian der Jungere i e the Younger or Jr 1621 1687 he produced a series of Topographia The 21 volume set was collectively known as the Topographia Germaniae It includes numerous town plans and views as well as maps of most countries and a World Map it was such a popular work that it was re issued in many editions He also took over and completed the later parts and editions of the Grand Voyages and Petits Voyages originally started by de Bry in 1590 and included volumes India Orientalis and America Occidentalis Merian s work inspired the Suecia Antiqua et Hodierna by Erik Dahlberg The German travel magazine Merian is named after him He was also noted for the finesse of his alchemical illustrations in books such as the Musaeum Hermeticum 1678 and Atalanta Fugiens 1618 He undertook the engravings for the encyclopaedic work of insect natural history De Serpentibus compiled by John Jonston This tradition would be taken up by his daughter Matthaus Merian died after several years of illness in 1650 in Langenschwalbach near Wiesbaden After his death his sons Matthaus Jr and Caspar took over the publishing house They continued publishing the Topographia Germaniae and the Theatrum Europaeum under the name Merian Erben i e Merian Heirs See also EditTopographia GalliaeReferences Edit Davis Natalie Zemon 1997 Women on the Margins Three Seventeenth Century Women Cambridge Mass Harvard University Press p 142 Further reading EditCoolidge William Augustus Brevoort 1911 Merian Matthew In Chisholm Hugh ed Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 18 11th ed Cambridge University Press pp 164 165 Lucas Heinrich Wuthrich Das druckgraphische Werk von Matthaus Merian d A vol 1 and 2 Basel 1966 vol 3 Hamburg 1993 vol 4 Hamburg 1996 Catalog zu Ausstellungen im Museum fur Kunsthandwerk Franckfurt am Mayn 15 September 7 November 1993 und im Kunstmuseum Basel 27 November 1993 13 Februar 1994 als unsterblich Ehren Gedachtnis zum 400 Geburtstag des hochberuhmten Delineatoris Zeichners Incisoris Stechers et Editoris Verlegers Matthaeus Merian des Aelteren Museum fur Kunsthandwerk Frankfurt am Main 1993 ISBN 3 88270 065 3 Ulrike Valeria Fuss Matthaeus Merian der Altere Von der lieblichen Landschaft zum Kriegsschauplatz Landschaft als Kulisse des 30jahrigen Krieges Frankfurt am Main 2000 ISBN 3 631 35558 0 Jorg Diefenbacher Die Schwalbacher Reise Mannheim 2002 ISBN 3 00 008209 3 Ulrike Valeria Fuss Momentaufnahme und Monumentalansicht Ein Vergleich zwischen Valentin Wagner und Matthaus Merian d A In Valentin Wagner um 1610 1655 Ein Zeichner im Dreissigjahrigen Krieg Aufsatze und Werkkatalog Darmstadt 2003 ISBN 3 921254 92 2 Lucas Heinrich Wuthrich Matthaeus Merian d A Eine Biographie Hoffmann und Campe Hamburg 2007 Lizenzausgabe Wissenschaftliche Buchgesellschaft Darmstadt 2007 Gotz J Pfeiffer Bild Zeitung und Moral Buchlein der Dreissigjahrige Krieg in Druckgraphiken von Matthaus Merian und Abraham Hogenberg Jacques Callot und Hans Ulrich Franck in Der Dreissigjahrige Krieg in Hanau und Umgebung hrsg vom Hanauer Geschichtsverein Hanau 2011 pp 255 275 External links Edit Media related to Matthaus Merian at Wikimedia Commons Works by or about Matthaus Merian at Wikisource Pictures and texts of Topographia Helvetiae Rhaetiae et Valesiae by Matthaus Merian can be found in the database VIATIMAGES Works by Matthaus Merian Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa America noviter delineata 1633 map by Matthaus Merian Portal to Texas History University of Texas Merian maps and engravings Retrieved from https en 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