Masters of the Plantin Press

Christoffel Plantijn and His Successors: A Legacy of Printing

Christoffel Plantijn, born in France in 1520, became one of the most influential figures in the history of European printing. In 1555, he founded the famous Plantin Press in Antwerp, establishing a legacy that would last for centuries. His business quickly grew into one of the largest and most prestigious printing operations in Europe, known especially for its high-quality production of religious, scientific, and humanist works. His close relationship with the Catholic Church, combined with his technical skill, helped Plantijn secure a monopoly on the printing of liturgical texts, making his workshop the center of intellectual and theological dissemination in the Low Countries.

After Plantijn's death in 1589, his son-in-law, Jan I Moretus, took over the business, maintaining the same standards of excellence and expanding the press's influence. Under the Moretus family, the printing house continued to flourish for generations. The most notable successors include Balthasar I Moretus, who managed the business during the late 16th and early 17th centuries, and his descendants, Balthasar II, III, and IV, who upheld the family’s reputation throughout the 17th and 18th centuries.

Each generation contributed to the press’s development, adapting to changing political and religious climates while maintaining the core values set by Plantijn. The female members of the family, such as Anna Goos and Anna Maria de Neuf, also played critical roles in keeping the business thriving during transitional periods. The press remained operational until the late 19th century, with Edward Moretus being its final master (1876).

Today, the legacy of Christoffel Plantijn and the Moretus family is preserved at the Plantin-Moretus Museum in Antwerp, which houses one of the most comprehensive collections of early printed books and historical printing equipment in the world. The museum stands as a testament to their enduring impact on European intellectual history and the art of bookmaking.