Politicians 17th century
Armand-Jean du Plessis, duc de Richelieu, also known as Cardinal Richelieu or the Red Cardinal (French: l'Éminence rouge) was a Roman Catholic cardinal, aristocrat and statesman of France.
Armand Jean's father, François du Plessis, Signor de Richelieu, was the grand proclaimer (chief magistrate) of Henry III, but left his family devastated at his death. At the age of 22, Armand was ordained a priest and began to build a career. Thanks to his intellectual talents, he was soon appointed chaplain to the new Queen Anne of Austria, and in 1616 he was appointed Secretary of State for War and Foreign Affairs. Further events and a palace coup led to his exile, but he returned to Paris five years later.
The Duc de Richelieu became a cardinal in 1622, and from 1624 until his death in 1642 he was chief minister to King Louis XIII of France. His main goals were to establish royal absolutism in France and to end the Spanish-Habsburg hegemony in Europe. He made significant strides in reforming France, especially in terms of the administrative structure of the government.
The intrigues of his opponents accompanied the Duc de Richelieu throughout his political life. In the last years of his life he found himself involved in religious conflicts, in opposition to the pope in a struggle with the French church over the distribution of revenues intended to finance the war.
Richelieu possessed outstanding intellectual ability, willpower, and industriousness. He directed his own wealth to patronizing the arts and the University of Paris; he established the French Academy. Richelieu was also a talented playwright and musician.
Johann Rudolf Huber the Elder was a Swiss painter and printmaker, as well as a statesman.
Huber studied painting with Basel and German masters, and in 1685 went to Venice, where he painted portraits. A few years later Huber entered the Academy of St. Luke in Rome, where he became a pupil of the famous Carlo Maratta. In 1693 the artist returned to Basel, where he was elected to the Grand Council of Basel and began to receive many prestigious commissions from the nobility; he was court painter to the Duke of Württemberg in Stutart. A very prolific painter, Huber painted many portraits of royalty during his lifetime.
John Milton was a British poet and writer-publicist, intellectual and politician of the English Revolutionary period.
Milton first planned to become a priest, studied at Cambridge University, and then abandoned this activity. Several years he spent reading and self-education, learning many languages. In 1638 Milton traveled around the continent for about a year and a half, spending much time in Italy, primarily in Rome and Florence. He befriended young Italian literati, and his encounter with Galileo further influenced his writing.
Milton became best known for his poem Paradise Lost in Ten Books, which declares its purpose to justify the ways of God to man, but also touches on both universal and personal themes. Milton was the first author to use the word "cosmos" in our modern sense of "outer space," and his space epic takes place in a confidently Copernican universe.
In his prose works, Milton advocated the abolition of the Church of England and the execution of Charles I. From the outbreak of the English Civil Wars in 1642 and long after the restoration of Charles II as king in 1660, he spoke out against tyranny and state-sanctioned religion in all his works. As a Protestant, Milton was often in conflict with the Roman Catholic Church. As a civil servant, Milton became the voice of the English Commonwealth after 1649 and then under Oliver Cromwell, conducting international correspondence and defending the government against polemical attacks from abroad.
John Milton is considered the most important English writer after William Shakespeare. Author of political pamphlets and religious treatises, he is one of the most famous writers of the 1650s, the vibrant era of the English Revolution (Civil War).
Jan Olis was a notable Dutch Golden Age painter, born in Gorinchem, Netherlands. His artistic journey began in 1632 when he joined the Dordrecht Guild of St. Luke, marking his official entry into the world of art. In addition to his painting career, Olis also dabbled in other professions; he was a wine seller and a teacher in the guild between 1632 and 1643. His life took an interesting turn when he moved to Heusden in 1651, where he held various council positions, eventually becoming the mayor in 1657 and a tax collector in 1670.
Olis' art primarily revolved around farm scenes, genre works, and merry companies, a style that resonated with the cultural and artistic norms of his time. His works are celebrated for their vivid portrayal of everyday life and social gatherings, which were typical subjects in the Dutch Golden Age of painting. Olis' paintings such as "Kitchen Interior" and "Elegant Company Playing Cards" showcase his talent in capturing the essence of social and domestic life with a keen eye for detail.
For collectors and experts in art and antiques, Jan Olis' works represent an important segment of Dutch Golden Age painting, a period renowned for its significant contribution to art history. His paintings not only reflect the cultural milieu of the 17th century Netherlands but also offer a window into the social customs and lifestyles of the time.
If you're intrigued by the works of Jan Olis and wish to stay updated on new product sales and auction events related to his art, signing up for updates is an excellent way to remain informed. This subscription service focuses solely on bringing the latest news about sales and auctions of Olis' works directly to you, without any extraneous information.
Samuel Pepys was a British statesman, Secretary of the Admiralty, and writer of the Restoration era.
Despite his humble origins, Pepys had a good career. He was initially secretary of the naval council, and from 1686 to 1688 he was secretary of the Admiralty of England, where he created the modern department of state from the archaic cabinet. He was for a time a Member of Parliament, President of the Royal Society, and a confidant of Charles II.
Samuel Pepys became famous when his "Memoirs", consisting of his diary, which he kept from 1659 to 1669, were published as early as the 19th century. This book gives a unique and fascinating picture of official life, the life of the upper classes of Restoration-era London, as well as his own ordinary life. The author had a truly journalistic gift and was able to describe a scene or person with a few precise phrases or even words. The book also provides evidence of the most important events of the time, be it plague, fire or war.
Sir Mervin Touchet, 2nd Earl Castelhaven was an English nobleman and politician, member of the English Parliament.
He became famous and is long remembered in English society for being the first and only English lord to be sentenced to death on the scaffold for a charge unrelated to politics. His wife and son accused him of sodomy with servants and rape. For jurists, this case is important primarily because it sets a precedent for a woman who is the victim of a crime to testify against her husband.
