Steven van Herwijck
Encyclopedia
Steven Cornelisz. van Herwijck (Utrecht
c. 1530–London 1565/67), was a Netherlandish
sculptor and gem engraver famous for his portrait medallions and medal
s. It has recently been suggested that he is the "famous paynter Steven" mentioned in an inventory of 1590, who has traditionally been identified as Steven van der Meulen
.
, Bishop of Utrecht, and Engelken Tols, date from this year. In 1559 he relocated to Antwerp. Nine medals survive of his work there, including a portrait of Jacobus Fabius. Fleeing religious persecution, he went to Poland
in 1561 where he made medallions of King Sigismund II
and other members of the Polish royal family.
In 1562 he travelled to England, where he produced the first portrait medals of private individuals to be made in that country. These portray William Parr, 1st Marquess of Northampton
and his wife Elizabeth Brooke, Marchioness of Northampton; William Herbert, 1st Earl of Pembroke (1501–1570); Anne Heneage (wife of Thomas Heneage
); Thomas Stanley, Under-Treasurer of the Royal Mint
; Richard Martin, Lord Mayor of London
, and his wife Dorcas Eglestone or Eccelstone; Edmund Withipoll; and Maria Dimock or Dymock, wife of the merchant John Dymock.
In 1564, van Herwijck was back in the Netherlands, spending time in both Utrecht and Antwerp. Antonis Mor's Portrait of a Goldsmith, identified as van Herwijck, is dated 1564 and it is likely that a portrait medallion of Mor by van Herwijck dates to this period. The Mor portrait may mark van Herwijck's marriage; a portrait of his wife Jonekin by Mor of the same date is in the Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery
in Glasgow
.
Van Herwijck returned to London in 1565, where he struck a medal of Queen Elizabeth
, of which the only surviving example was unearthed in a ploughed field in 1962; it is now in the National Portrait Gallery, London. His medallion of the French ambassador Michel de Castelnau
is also dated 1565. He died in London sometime before Easter 1567, leaving his widow Jonekin or Johane and children.
speculated that these initials stood for "Stephen of Holland made this" (in Latin, Stephanus Hollandus fecit). In 1922 Victor Tourneur showed that the medallist "Ste H." could be identified with the Steven van Herwijck born in Utrecht around 1530.
refers to a number of works dated to the early 1560s by "the famous paynter Steven". Sir Roy Strong
and others identified this "Steven" with the Flemish artist Steven van der Meulen and suggested a body of works roughly dated 1560—1568. The recent discovery of van der Meulen's will dated 1563 and proved
in 1564 has raised questions about this traditional identification, and in the Spring 2009 issue of The British Art Journal Bendor Grosvenor proposed an alternative identification of the painter "Steven" with van Herwijck. This new identification has not yet been generally accepted by museums and scholars.
Utrecht (city)
Utrecht city and municipality is the capital and most populous city of the Dutch province of Utrecht. It is located in the eastern corner of the Randstad conurbation, and is the fourth largest city of the Netherlands with a population of 312,634 on 1 Jan 2011.Utrecht's ancient city centre features...
c. 1530–London 1565/67), was a Netherlandish
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...
sculptor and gem engraver famous for his portrait medallions and medal
Medal
A medal, or medallion, is generally a circular object that has been sculpted, molded, cast, struck, stamped, or some way rendered with an insignia, portrait, or other artistic rendering. A medal may be awarded to a person or organization as a form of recognition for athletic, military, scientific,...
s. It has recently been suggested that he is the "famous paynter Steven" mentioned in an inventory of 1590, who has traditionally been identified as Steven van der Meulen
Steven van der Meulen
Steven van der Meulen was a Dutch artist active c. 1543-1564. He gained prominence in England in the first decade of the reign of Elizabeth I as one of many Flemish artists active at the Tudor court...
.
Life
Van Herwijck worked in Italy in 1557 and returned to Utrecht in 1558, when he was made a Master of the artists' Guild of St. Luke. His earliest surviving medals, of George van EgmondGeorge van Egmond
George or Joris van Egmont was bishop of Utrecht from 1534 to 1559.-Biography:George was the son of Jan III van Egmont. In 1526 he became canon and later deacon of the chapter of Liège...
, Bishop of Utrecht, and Engelken Tols, date from this year. In 1559 he relocated to Antwerp. Nine medals survive of his work there, including a portrait of Jacobus Fabius. Fleeing religious persecution, he went to Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
in 1561 where he made medallions of King Sigismund II
Sigismund II Augustus
Sigismund II Augustus I was King of Poland and Grand Duke of Lithuania, the only son of Sigismund I the Old, whom Sigismund II succeeded in 1548...
and other members of the Polish royal family.
In 1562 he travelled to England, where he produced the first portrait medals of private individuals to be made in that country. These portray William Parr, 1st Marquess of Northampton
William Parr, 1st Marquess of Northampton
William Parr, 1st Marquess of Northampton, 1st Earl of Essex and 1st Baron Parr, KG was the son of Sir Thomas Parr and his wife, Maud Green, daughter of Sir Thomas Green, of Broughton and Greens Norton...
and his wife Elizabeth Brooke, Marchioness of Northampton; William Herbert, 1st Earl of Pembroke (1501–1570); Anne Heneage (wife of Thomas Heneage
Thomas Heneage
Sir Thomas Heneage PC was an English politician and a courtier at the court of Elizabeth I.-Early and personal life:...
); Thomas Stanley, Under-Treasurer of the Royal Mint
Thomas Stanley (Royal Mint)
Thomas Stanley was a goldsmith and officer of the Royal Mint in Tudor England. Stanley rose to the rank of Under-Treasurer of the Mint at the Tower of London in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I..-Family:...
; Richard Martin, Lord Mayor of London
Richard Martin (Lord Mayor of London)
Sir Richard Martin was an English goldsmith and Master of the Mint who served as Sheriff and twice as Lord Mayor of the City of London during the reign of Elizabeth I.-Early career:...
, and his wife Dorcas Eglestone or Eccelstone; Edmund Withipoll; and Maria Dimock or Dymock, wife of the merchant John Dymock.
In 1564, van Herwijck was back in the Netherlands, spending time in both Utrecht and Antwerp. Antonis Mor's Portrait of a Goldsmith, identified as van Herwijck, is dated 1564 and it is likely that a portrait medallion of Mor by van Herwijck dates to this period. The Mor portrait may mark van Herwijck's marriage; a portrait of his wife Jonekin by Mor of the same date is in the Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery
Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery
The University of Glasgow's Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery is the oldest public museum in Scotland. It is located in various buildings on the main campus of the University in the west end of Glasgow.-History:...
in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
.
Van Herwijck returned to London in 1565, where he struck a medal of Queen Elizabeth
Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...
, of which the only surviving example was unearthed in a ploughed field in 1962; it is now in the National Portrait Gallery, London. His medallion of the French ambassador Michel de Castelnau
Michel de Castelnau
Michel de Castelnau, Sieur de la Mauvissière , French soldier and diplomat, ambassador to Queen Elizabeth, was born in Mauvissière, , Touraine about 1520...
is also dated 1565. He died in London sometime before Easter 1567, leaving his widow Jonekin or Johane and children.
Stephen of Holland
Van Herwijk's medals are typically signed "Ste. H." or "Ste. H. F.", and the 18th century English engraver and antiquary George VertueGeorge Vertue
George Vertue was an English engraver and antiquary, whose notebooks on British art of the first half of the 18th century are a valuable source for the period.-Life:...
speculated that these initials stood for "Stephen of Holland made this" (in Latin, Stephanus Hollandus fecit). In 1922 Victor Tourneur showed that the medallist "Ste H." could be identified with the Steven van Herwijck born in Utrecht around 1530.
"The famous paynter Steven" ?
The 1590 inventory of the paintings in the collection of John Lumley, 1st Baron LumleyJohn Lumley, 1st Baron Lumley
John Lumley, 1st Baron Lumley was an English aristocrat.- Early life :John Lumley was born about 1533, was grandson and heir of John, Lord Lumley, being son and heir of his only son and heir apparent George Lumley by Jane second daughter and coheir of Sir Richard Knightly of Upton,...
refers to a number of works dated to the early 1560s by "the famous paynter Steven". Sir Roy Strong
Roy Strong
Sir Roy Colin Strong FRSL is an English art historian, museum curator, writer, broadcaster and landscape designer. He has been director of both the National Portrait Gallery and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London...
and others identified this "Steven" with the Flemish artist Steven van der Meulen and suggested a body of works roughly dated 1560—1568. The recent discovery of van der Meulen's will dated 1563 and proved
Probate
Probate is the legal process of administering the estate of a deceased person by resolving all claims and distributing the deceased person's property under the valid will. A probate court decides the validity of a testator's will...
in 1564 has raised questions about this traditional identification, and in the Spring 2009 issue of The British Art Journal Bendor Grosvenor proposed an alternative identification of the painter "Steven" with van Herwijck. This new identification has not yet been generally accepted by museums and scholars.
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