Willem Hondius (1598 - XVII century)

Willem Hondius

Willem Hondius or Willem Hondt was a Dutch engraver, cartographer and painter who spent most of his life in Poland. Willem Hondius was one of seven children of Hendrik Hondius the Elder. His father was one of the most important Dutch reproductive printmakers and publishers in the early 17th century. A connection with the Hondius family of cartographers in Amsterdam is possible but has not been established. In 1636 Willem visited Danzig in Poland. In 1641 he moved there from The Hague for good. Hondius was supported at the royal court of King Władysław IV Waza. The King awarded him the title of Chalcographus privilegialus (privileged engraver) and Chalcographus Regius (Royal engraver). In August 1651, in the wake of the Khmelnytsky Uprising, Hondius joined the army of Janusz Radziwiłł conquering Kiev.[1] The first ever portrait of the famous Cossack leader Bohdan Khmelnytsky was engraved during this campaign.

Wikipedia

Date and place of birt:	1598, Haag, Flanders
Date and place of death:	XVII century, Gdańsk, Poland
Nationality:	Poland, The Netherlands, Flanders
Period of activity:	XVII century
Specialization:	Artist, Cartographer, Engraver, Genre painter, Painter, Portraitist
Genre:	Genre art, Portrait