Katharyne Lescailje
Encyclopedia
Katharyne Lescailje or Catharina Lescaille (born Amsterdam
, September 26, 1649 - died June 8, 1711) was a Dutch
poet, translator and publisher. Along with Catharina Questiers
and Cornelia van der Veer
she was the most successful female Dutch poet of the second half of the 17th century.
called "Huis onder het zeil" (House under sail). Katharina's parents were friends with the writers Jan Vos
, Joost van den Vondel
and Gerard Brandt
. In 1658 Jacob Lescailje became the exclusive publisher for the Amsterdam Theatre. Katharina, who never married, and her sisters continued his business after he died in 1677. She started publishing her own translations of French plays (Kassandra in 1684, Genserik in 1685, and Herodes en Marianne in 1685) and also wrote and exchanged poems among friends. She was honored with a book of poetry dedicated to her in 1685 by the Groningen poet Ludolph Smids.
Her sister Barbara married the German bookbinder Matthias de Wreedt who helped with the business and who left their share to their daughter Susanna, who married Dirk Rank and added his name to the printing label in 1712. By 1731, when the poetry bundel of Katharina was published, the fortunes of the publisher were waning and they lost their privilege to print the texts for the Schouwburg.
She specialized in political poems, and wrote several light comedies that were played in Amsterdam througout the 18th century. Twenty years after her death, in 1731, her collected works were published, becoming one of the first female poets in the Netherlands with her own collected works. He poetry occupied three large volumes of nearly 1000 pages and was reprinted some years later.
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, September 26, 1649 - died June 8, 1711) was a Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
poet, translator and publisher. Along with Catharina Questiers
Catharina Questiers
Catharina Questiers was a Dutch poet and dramatist. Along with Cornelia van der Veer and Katharyne Lescailje she was the most successful female Dutch poet of the second half of the 17th century. Her brother David also achieved some note as a poet.-Reference:* at the Digital library for Dutch...
and Cornelia van der Veer
Cornelia van der Veer
Cornelia van der Veer was a Dutch poet. Along with Catharina Questiers and Katharyne Lescailje she was the most successful female Dutch poet of the second half of the 17th century.-Reference:...
she was the most successful female Dutch poet of the second half of the 17th century.
Biography
She was the daughter of the Amsterdam publisher Jacob Lescailje, who married Aeltje Verwou and moved from Dordrecht to Amsterdam to start printing books in 1645 in a house on Dam SquareDam Square
Dam Square, or simply the Dam is a town square in Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands. Its notable buildings and frequent events make it one of the most well-known and important locations in the city.- Location and description :...
called "Huis onder het zeil" (House under sail). Katharina's parents were friends with the writers Jan Vos
Jan Vos
Jan Vos may refer to:*Jan Vos , Dutch poet and playwright*Jan Vos , Dutch footballer...
, Joost van den Vondel
Joost van den Vondel
Joost van den Vondel was a Dutch writer and playwright. He is considered the most prominent Dutch poet and playwright of the 17th century. His plays are the ones from that period that are still most frequently performed, and his epic Joannes de Boetgezant , on the life of John the Baptist, has...
and Gerard Brandt
Gerard Brandt
Gerard Brandt was a Dutch preacher, playwright, poet, church historian, biographer and naval historian...
. In 1658 Jacob Lescailje became the exclusive publisher for the Amsterdam Theatre. Katharina, who never married, and her sisters continued his business after he died in 1677. She started publishing her own translations of French plays (Kassandra in 1684, Genserik in 1685, and Herodes en Marianne in 1685) and also wrote and exchanged poems among friends. She was honored with a book of poetry dedicated to her in 1685 by the Groningen poet Ludolph Smids.
Her sister Barbara married the German bookbinder Matthias de Wreedt who helped with the business and who left their share to their daughter Susanna, who married Dirk Rank and added his name to the printing label in 1712. By 1731, when the poetry bundel of Katharina was published, the fortunes of the publisher were waning and they lost their privilege to print the texts for the Schouwburg.
She specialized in political poems, and wrote several light comedies that were played in Amsterdam througout the 18th century. Twenty years after her death, in 1731, her collected works were published, becoming one of the first female poets in the Netherlands with her own collected works. He poetry occupied three large volumes of nearly 1000 pages and was reprinted some years later.