Thomas de Leu
Encyclopedia
Thomas de Leu or Leeuw or Le Leup (1560–1612) was a French engraver of Flemish origin.
He began his career in Antwerp, influenced first of all by Wierix
. He worked mostly in Paris
, starting from 1576, at the atelier of Jean Rabel. He was one of the most important engraver
s of portraits of his time. He was the son-in-law of Antoine Charon
, one of the principal painters of the Second School of Fontainebleau
, and, thereby, brother-in-law of the engravers en taille douce Léonard Gauthier and Jaspar Isaac. He was also the father-in-law of Claude Vignon
.
, Jacques of Savoy, several plants for Mattias de Lobel's Plantarum Seu Stirpium Icones, and, interestingly enough, himself.
Of the engravings from the period, the plate for his self-portrait is by far the most sought-after, as only a few prints of the portrait exist, likely given as gifts to family members and close friends originally, and the existence of the plate has apparently never been acknowledged. Many sixteenth century engraving enthusiasts have speculated as to where the plate is, and in such circles questions of its location/ownership can go on for hours, generating wild conspiracy stories and even hypotheses about now-unknown printing methods used by De Leu.
Background
Wierix family
The Wierix family were a Flemish dynasty of printmakers in engraving in the 16th and early 17th centuries, active in Antwerp and Brussels....
. He worked mostly in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, starting from 1576, at the atelier of Jean Rabel. He was one of the most important engraver
Engraving
Engraving is the practice of incising a design on to a hard, usually flat surface, by cutting grooves into it. The result may be a decorated object in itself, as when silver, gold, steel, or glass are engraved, or may provide an intaglio printing plate, of copper or another metal, for printing...
s of portraits of his time. He was the son-in-law of Antoine Charon
Antoine Caron
Antoine Caron was a French master glassmaker, illustrator, Northern Mannerist painter and a product of the School of Fontainebleau.He is one of the few French painters of his time who had a pronounced artistic personality...
, one of the principal painters of the Second School of Fontainebleau
School of Fontainebleau
The Ecole de Fontainebleau refers to two periods of artistic production in France during the late Renaissance centered around the royal Château de Fontainebleau, that were crucial in forming the French version of Northern Mannerism....
, and, thereby, brother-in-law of the engravers en taille douce Léonard Gauthier and Jaspar Isaac. He was also the father-in-law of Claude Vignon
Claude Vignon
Claude Vignon was a leading French painter and engraver working in the Baroque manner.He was born at Tours and received early training in Paris...
.
Work
As one of the most important engravers of his time, de Leu's pieces are highly sought after. Some of his more famous subjects include Claude de SainctesClaude de Sainctes
Claude de Sainctes was a French Catholic controversialist.At the age of fifteen he joined the Canons Regular of Saint-Cheron, and was sent to the College of Navarre in Paris, where he received the degree of Doctor of Theology...
, Jacques of Savoy, several plants for Mattias de Lobel's Plantarum Seu Stirpium Icones, and, interestingly enough, himself.
Of the engravings from the period, the plate for his self-portrait is by far the most sought-after, as only a few prints of the portrait exist, likely given as gifts to family members and close friends originally, and the existence of the plate has apparently never been acknowledged. Many sixteenth century engraving enthusiasts have speculated as to where the plate is, and in such circles questions of its location/ownership can go on for hours, generating wild conspiracy stories and even hypotheses about now-unknown printing methods used by De Leu.