Balthasar van Meurs

Balthasar van Meurs was born in Antwerp some time between 1612 and 1619 as the son of Jan van Meurs. His father was a publisher and served as an alderman in Antwerp. His mother Catharina or Catelijne de Sweert was a sister of Maria de Sweert, who was the wife of Balthasar I Moretus. Balthasar I Moretus was an influential printer and publisher in Antwerp who was the grandson of Christoffel Plantin and took over management of the Plantin Press in Antwerp, one of the leading publishing houses in Europe, after his own father died in 1619. Balthazar Moretus started a partnership with Jan van Meurs which lasted until 1629. Jan van Meurs also worked closely with the Nutius family of printers. Through these collaborations and family connections Jan van Meurs was part of the circle of humanists in Antwerp of which Rubens was also a member.^[4][5]

Balthasar became in April 1637 a member of the 'Sodaliteit van de Bejaerde Jongmans', a fraternity for bachelors established by the Jesuit order.^[3] It is not clear whether he is the son of Jan van Meurs who was registered in the guild year 1646–1647 as a master painter or wijnmeester, i.e. the son of an existing master.^[6] Balthasar's brother Jacob would later take over the book publishing business from his father.^[7] The brothers are later mentioned in a lawsuit regarding the authenticity of a copper plate painting sold as a Pieter Breughel the Elder from the estate of their father, who had acquired an extensive collection of Flemish paintings during his lifetime.^[8]

In the guild year running from 18 September 1673 to 18 September 1674 his death duties were paid to the Antwerp Guild of St. Luke.^[6]