Jacobus Buys - 3 engravings by Jacob Cats, Joan de Witt, Cornelis de Witt

3 engravings of 3 Dutch greats

• Made by Jacobus Buys, after Cornelis Bogerts and Reinier Vinkeles
• Technique: engraving on handmade (verge) paper
• Sheet size: 9 × 14.5 cm
• Image size: 5.6 × 8.5 cm
• Sleek, modern frame with black edge: 17x22 cm

Johan de Witt (1625–1672)
Johan de Witt was the political brain of the Dutch Republic in its Golden Age. As Grand Pensionary, he shaped the course of Dutch politics and economics for years, with a sharp intelligence and a strong belief in the republican ideal. His life and tragic end make him one of the most intriguing figures in Dutch history.

Cornelis de Witt (1623–1672)
Cornelis de Witt supported his brother Johan as an administrator, diplomat, and military organizer. He played a key role in the defense of the Republic and was closely involved in the major political tensions of his time. His fate is inextricably linked to that of his brother and the dramatic Disaster Year of 1672.

Jacob Cats (1577–1660)
Jacob Cats was the voice of wisdom and morality in the Dutch Golden Age. As a poet, jurist, and Grand Pensionary, he managed to combine politics with accessible poetry full of life lessons and folk wisdom. His work was read for centuries, making him one of the most beloved authors in the Netherlands.

Biography of an engraver
Jacobus Buys (November 19, 1724 – April 7, 1801) was a Dutch painter and engraver. He was born in Amsterdam, the son of a wigmaker. Buys trained with Cornelis Pronk, Jacob de Wit, and Cornelis Troost.

Artist biography
Cornelis Bogerts (1745–1817) was a Dutch draftsman, engraver, etcher, and lithographer. He was born in Velsen in 1745 and died in Amsterdam on February 3, 1817. From 1771 to 1817, he worked in Amsterdam. Bogerts was part of the partnership Rein Vinkeles & C. Bogerts. His work is held in the collections of various museums, including the Rotterdam City Archives, Museum Elburg, the Stedelijk Museum Zutphen, the National Organ Museum, Paleis Het Loo, and Museum De Lakenhal.

Reinier Vinkeles (1741–1816) was a Dutch draughtsman, illustrator, and engraver. He was born in Amsterdam on June 19, 1741, and died there on January 30, 1816. Vinkeles began his training with Jan Punt and joined the Amsterdam City Drawing Academy in 1762. In 1770, he left for Paris, where he studied for a year with Jacques-Philippe Le Bas and met the Dutch artists Hermanus Numan and Izaak Jansz de Wit. After returning to Amsterdam, he primarily worked on prints for book illustrations, including portraits, topographical and architectural scenes, copies of old Dutch masters, and stage set designs. His work is represented in the collection of the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam, among others.