SADELER Jan I

(Brussels 1550 – Venice 1600)

The Sadeler family was the largest and most famous dynasty of Flemish engravers and printers, active in several European countries for three generations, producing a vast amount of generally high quality works.

The progenitor was Jan de Saeyelleer (Sadeleer), who had three sons: Jan I, Aegidius I and Raphael I, the first generation of engravers. The political and religious uncertainties and the period of economic crisis in Antwerp forced the Sadeler to multiple transfers: Cologne, Munich, Venice and Prague. Jan I was an active draftsman and engraver, first in Antwerp and later in several other European centres, including Venice and Verona, where he also worked as a printer.