Johan Teyler
Encyclopedia
Johannes or Johan Teyler (1648 –1712), was a Dutch Golden Age
painter, engraver, mathematics teacher, and inventor of the color print.
, where he wrote a dissertation in favor of Descartes. After the death of his father, he studied in Leiden and afterwards acquired a post as Professor of Math and Philosophy in Nijmegen
in 1670. He was a respected professor but was overlooked for promotion due to his Cartesian ideas. Through the mediation of his friend Gottfried Leibniz
he attempted to acquire a professorship in Wolfenbüttel
but gave up after discussions with Christiaan Huygens. The rest of his career was outside Academia. In 1676 he became Vestingbouwkundige fortication manager for Frederick William I, Elector of Brandenburg during the Scanian War
. In 1678 he also became tutor for the Elector's sons.
Later the same year he was dismissed and returned to Nijmegen to receive backpay which was still owed him there. With the extra funds he undertook a trip to Italy, Egypt, the Holy Land and Malta, and later sent his diary to the Elector. He later wrote a popular book on fortifications in 1688 called Architectura militaris (Rotterdam, 1688), and in the same year received a patent on a color printing process that involved using colored ink instead of just black ink when printing plates. In 1695 he had a printing workshop in Rijswijk
where he printed military-related works, but in 1697 he sold it and in 1698 undertook another trip to Berlin.
According to Houbraken he was a friend of Jacob de Heusch
and a colleague in the Bentvueghels
with the nickname Speculatie, who travelled with De Heusch to Berlin in 1698. They knew each other from their time in Rome as members of the Bentvueghel club, where Teyler also consorted with his former Math pupil from Nijmegen Jan van Call
.
According to the RKD where he is registered as a painter, he returned from Italy in 1683 and remained in Nijmegen except for his trip to Berlin.
Dutch Golden Age
The Golden Age was a period in Dutch history, roughly spanning the 17th century, in which Dutch trade, science, military and art were among the most acclaimed in the world. The first half is characterised by the Eighty Years' War till 1648...
painter, engraver, mathematics teacher, and inventor of the color print.
Biography
Teyler was born at Nijmegen. His father was William Taylor, a British or Scottish mercenary, who changed his name to Teyler. Johan studied Latin at the Latin school of Nijmegen and Mathematics at the Kwartierlijke AcademieUniversity of Nijmegen (1655-1680)
The University of Nijmegen was the first university in Nijmegen, Netherlands and existed between 1655 and ±1680....
, where he wrote a dissertation in favor of Descartes. After the death of his father, he studied in Leiden and afterwards acquired a post as Professor of Math and Philosophy in Nijmegen
University of Nijmegen (1655-1680)
The University of Nijmegen was the first university in Nijmegen, Netherlands and existed between 1655 and ±1680....
in 1670. He was a respected professor but was overlooked for promotion due to his Cartesian ideas. Through the mediation of his friend Gottfried Leibniz
Gottfried Leibniz
Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz was a German philosopher and mathematician. He wrote in different languages, primarily in Latin , French and German ....
he attempted to acquire a professorship in Wolfenbüttel
Wolfenbüttel
Wolfenbüttel is a town in Lower Saxony, Germany, located on the Oker river about 13 kilometres south of Brunswick. It is the seat of the District of Wolfenbüttel and of the bishop of the Protestant Lutheran State Church of Brunswick...
but gave up after discussions with Christiaan Huygens. The rest of his career was outside Academia. In 1676 he became Vestingbouwkundige fortication manager for Frederick William I, Elector of Brandenburg during the Scanian War
Scanian War
The Scanian War was a part of the Northern Wars involving the union of Denmark-Norway, Brandenburg and Sweden. It was fought mainly on Scanian soil, in the former Danish provinces along the border with Sweden and in Northern Germany...
. In 1678 he also became tutor for the Elector's sons.
Later the same year he was dismissed and returned to Nijmegen to receive backpay which was still owed him there. With the extra funds he undertook a trip to Italy, Egypt, the Holy Land and Malta, and later sent his diary to the Elector. He later wrote a popular book on fortifications in 1688 called Architectura militaris (Rotterdam, 1688), and in the same year received a patent on a color printing process that involved using colored ink instead of just black ink when printing plates. In 1695 he had a printing workshop in Rijswijk
Rijswijk
Rijswijk is a town and municipality in the western Netherlands, in the province of South Holland. It is a suburb of The Hague and covers an area of 14.48 km² ....
where he printed military-related works, but in 1697 he sold it and in 1698 undertook another trip to Berlin.
According to Houbraken he was a friend of Jacob de Heusch
Jacob de Heusch
Jacob de Heusch , was a Dutch painter. He was Willem de Heusch's nephew, signing like his uncle, substituting an initial J for the initial G ....
and a colleague in the Bentvueghels
Bentvueghels
The Bentvueghels were a society of mostly Dutch and Flemish artists active in Rome from about 1620 to 1720. They are also known as the Schildersbent .-Activities:...
with the nickname Speculatie, who travelled with De Heusch to Berlin in 1698. They knew each other from their time in Rome as members of the Bentvueghel club, where Teyler also consorted with his former Math pupil from Nijmegen Jan van Call
Jan van Call
Jan van Call was an artist born, according to Descamps, at Nimeguen in 1655. He is said to have attained considerable proficiency in painting without the help of an instructor. His first attempts were made in copying the landscapes of Jan Brueghel, Paulus Bril, and Willem van Nieulant, and he...
.
According to the RKD where he is registered as a painter, he returned from Italy in 1683 and remained in Nijmegen except for his trip to Berlin.