Alexander Voet the Elder
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Alexander Voet the Elder or Alexander Voet I (10 September 1608 (or possibly in 1613) in Antwerp – 1 October 1689 in Antwerp) was a Flemish engraver, print artist and publisher. He was one of the leading engravers and publishers in Antwerp in the middle and second half of the 17th century. He operated a large workshop in which sixty to seventy collaborators took care of the entire process of printmaking, printing and publishing.[1]
Details about Alexander Voet's early life are scarce. He was born in Antwerp in 1608 or possibly 1613.[1] Nothing is known about Alexander Voet's training. Because stylistically his prints are very close to the engraving style of the prominent engraver Paulus Pontius some historians have speculated he may have been his pupil.[2] Voet became a member of the Antwerp Guild of Saint Luke in 1628.[3]
He married Catharina Huybrechts on 28 November 1630. After the death of his first wife, he remarried Sara van der Steen on 9 December 1634. His second wife was the mother of Alexander who also became an engraver. His daughter Sara married Gaspar Huybrechts, another prominent Antwerp engraver and publisher. Alexander was active from 1634 in the local chamber of rhetoric "De Violieren".[4]
Voet was very successful as engraver and publisher. Around 1665 he employed between 60 and 70 workers who were illuminators, plate cutters, printers etc. This large workshop allowed Voet to carry out the entire printing and publishing activity in his workshop.[1]
At his death in 1689 he left a large collection of artworks including paintings and drawings by leading Antwerp artists of his age such as Rubens, van Dyck and Adriaen Brouwer as well as by artists from the 16th century.[5]
His pupils included his son Alexander, Alexander Goetiers (Gaquier), Adriaen Lommelin, Edouard van Ordonie, Franciscus van der Steen, Renier Manteler, Alexander, Gillis de Mesmaker and Pieter Maepeye.[1][3]
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