Philippus Jacobus Brepols

Brepols was born in 1778.

In 1795, Pieter Corbeels, a printer from Leuven moved together with Philippus Jacobus Brepols as his assistant and apprentice, to Turnhout, possibly to flee the French military which occupied the Austrian Netherlands at that time.

Since Corbeels was executed for his fight against the French, Brepols had to take over the responsibility for the printing company.

The widow of Corbeels managed the business for short while, but from 1800 onwards P.J. Brepols gradually took over the house and the business.

Brepols published popular prints such as catchpenny prints and devotionalia. The prints were originally in black and white but many of them were hand-colored by later owners