Jacob de Gheyn II

Jacob de Gheyn II
"Jacobus de Geyn, Antwerp Pict. et Sculpt." by Hendrick Hondius (1610)
Born	1565 Antwerp
Died	29 March 1629 The Hague
Spouse(s)	Eva Stalpaert van der Wiele
Occupation	Painter Engraver
Nationality	Dutch
Genres	Drill manual
Language	Dutch Early New High German Middle French
Notable work(s)	Wappenhandelinghe van Roers Musquetten ende Spiessen (1607)
Concordance by	Michael Chidester

Jacob de Gheyn II (Jacques; c. 1565 - 29 Mar 1629) was a Dutch painter and engraver, whose work shows the transition from Northern Mannerism to Dutch realism over the course of his career. De Gheyn painted some of the earliest female nudes, vanitas, and floral still lifes in Dutch art. He is credited with creating over 1,500 drawings, including landscapes and natural history illustrations.

De Gheyn was born in Antwerp and received his first training from his father, Jacob de Gheyn I, a glass painter, engraver, and draftsman. In 1585, he moved to Haarlem, where he studied under Hendrik Goltzius for the next five years. He moved again, to Leiden, in the middle of the 1590s. De Gheyn married Eva Stalpaert van der Wiele of Mechelen in 1595. His son, Jacob de Gheyn III, was born in 1596, and grew to become an engraver in his own right, as well as the subject of a portrait by Rembrandt.

De Gheyn's work attracted the attention of wealthy sponsors, and his first commission was for an engraving of the Siege of Geertruidenberg from Maurice of Nassau, Prince of Orange. This event, from 27 March to 24 June 1593, had been more of a demonstration of power by Prince Maurits, than an actual war, and had even attracted tourists. As a publicity stunt, the siege and its subsequent engraving were successful in propagating an image of Prince Maurits as an able general. Around 1600, de Gheyn abandoned engraving, and focused on painting and etching. Moving to The Hague in 1605, he was employed often by Dutch royalty, designing a garden in the Buitenhof for Prince Maurice which featured the two first grottoes in the Netherlands. After Maurice's death in 1625, de Gheyn worked for his brother, Frederick Henry.

HEMA Contributions

In 1607, de Gheyn created a series of prints illustrating militia drill with the calvera, musket, and pike. They were published in 1607-8 in the Hague, Netherlands, by Robert de Baudouz under the title Wappenhandelinghe van Roers Musquetten ende Spiessen ("Weapon-handling of Calvers, Muskets, and Pikes"); also included were anonymous descriptions and commentary in Dutch, English, French, and German editions.

Because an English translation has not yet been produced from one of the original languages, the text of 1607 English publication has been placed in the first transcription column.

Preface and Introduction

Images	No Translation	English Transcription (1607)  by Michael Chidester	Dutch Transcription (1607)	French Transcription (1607)	German Transcription (1607)
		[Ttl] The Exercise of Armes For Calivres, Muskettes, and Pikes
		After the ordre of his Excellence. Maurits Prince of Orange Counte of Nassau etc. Governour and Captaine generall over Geldreland. Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht. Overyssel. etc.
		Set forthe in figures by Jacob de Gheyn.
		[3] To the Prince. Nor your highnes, nor any man to whose vew this present booke shall come, shall need to finde it strange, either, why it hath borrowed an English habitt, or shrowded it selfe under so great a protection: since on the one side it represents unto You that manner of exercise of Armes, which hath for many yeares bene practised in this schoole of warre, the United Provinces, and that, by a Captayne whose worth (I thinke) not any part of the world is ignorant of: in which warre the valure of the English and Schottish nations (now Brittaynes) hath bene of that speciall marke and note, that, for readye use of theyr Armes, provident care of the Commaunders and commendable obedience of the Souldier towards his chiefe, it can not be denyed but that the Provinces have received verye acceptable services at theyr handes. On the other side: to whom could I (in judgement) more fitly and (as I may saye) justly, addresse the proprietye of a worke of this worthe and nature? then to a Prince descended from so many powerfull and victorious Kinges, who even by destyny and judgement of all the world, is not onely the heyre of theyr Fortunes, but an inheritour of theyr vertues also: then to a Prince the sonne of the most puissant Kinge of all his predecessours: who, though he blesseth his Realmes with the sweetenesse of peace, yet (doubtelesse) he placeth the securitie of that content, in the due and lawfull exercise of Armes. Lately, to whom rather (I saye) should I dedicate this worke? then to a Prince, that through the light of his owne proper example, doth so much beautifye and ennoble the practise of Armes, who even in the fore-springe of his yeares and amidst so many other princely entertaynements fitt for his youth and state, doth yet give such a lustre to this of Armes, by the coutinuall familiaritye he hath with them in his often practise, that I thinke I may saye, and saye truely, that the most true and perfect knowledge of them is rather to be found with your Highnes, then brought to You. Therefore, as all those excellent professours of excellent sciences (wherein yet your Highnes excells them all) are every one in speciall duety bound, to give the best testymonye they can of theyr thankefulnesse, both in regard of the favour which some receive in being nere You, and also of the honour which You doe to all theyr professions, in not disdayninge to participate with theyr industries: So have I in all humble and due respect, thought it fitt, to tender You this acknowledgement of myne, hopinge that your Highnes shall receive no small contentement, by addinge the longe experience of the Nether-lands practise to Your owne knowledge of ancient Histories, and those wise and deep-grounded instructions of that great Monarche the Kinge Your Father. Your Highnes his. Most humble servant in all duetye at command. Jacob de Gheyn.
		[5] To Those That Love the Exercise of Arms Wissheth Jacob de Gheyn Heath and prosperitie. It is out of all doubt, that neither the quietneße of a common wealthe without armes, nor the armes without convenient or due exercise, can stand or be maintained. Which hath not onely bene well considered by the old sages or wise, that have undertaken to give any examples of lawe, but is approoved by the effectuall experience of the most famous Townes and People, that have preserved their Estate chieflye by those meanes. And examining the further course of the whole World, we shall find, that the soveraigne powre hath alwayes bene by those which here in did most surpasse theyr neighbours. The Grecians, in the time thye have bene in theyr most shyning glorie have much embraced this point, and therein by theyr witt not little proffited. Yet the Romains have farre surpaßed here in as well those as all others, and ever exercised theyr youth at all kinde of armes by those whom they called Campi-doctores or Mastres of the field. Which maner is playnelye showed unto us, in the writinges that are thereof come to our handes, the same reason standeth fast for ever, and with all nations. But in regard that not onely the use but even the armes them selves are much changed chiefly sithence the findinge out of Gun pouder, it can not be denied but that wee can reape small or no benefite by the old rehearsals, without wee have neewe instructions. His Princely Exce. therefore the Earle Maurice of Naßau &c. to whose care (by the Lords Estates generall of the united Provinces) is left the charge of defending so worthie countries and the conducting of a warre which is taken for a schoole or patterne to the whole World, Like as he throughout the whole militarie order (before his times much decayed) hath restored and partelye brought to the examples of the old, partely by his owne inventions amended and adorned, so hath he taken great regard to the exercise of Armes, as one of the principall partes of the militarie ordre, where out are risen such comodites as unto every man is knowne not onely in these Countries but also in the uttermost partes of the worlde. [6] perly set downe in the ende ech severall picture with his severall difference of stand or posture and that to give truer light to the judgement of the observer. But above all is to be well considered that which seemes here to require a leasurly and slow proceeding in the apprehension (by reason of the smalenes of the sculpture which could not conveniently be otherwise formed) that I say) must the industrious learner with a diligent practise strive to bringe to a nimble and quicke readines of action. Nevertheleße so, as that in the best fashon and with the most care and providence he make it appear that it is to offend the ennemy without hurting or anoynig him self or his fellowe, the rest the written instructions and the pictures shall shewe.

Caliver

Images	No Translation	English Transcription (1607)  by Michael Chidester	Dutch Transcription (1607)	French Transcription (1607)	German Transcription (1607)
		[7] Shorte Instruction Upon the Contrefaictinges, Touching the Right Use of Calivers, for the yonge or inexpert Shot, which instruction by Cypher letters is agreeing or answering orderly with every picture. And because here to are joyned some pictures of standing still for sentenels, to shew how the souldier in tyme of need (readie with his peece) shall stand, there fore doe the writinges also there of agree with every figure or picture, according his number.

Musket

Images	No Translation	English Transcription (1607)  by Michael Chidester	Dutch Transcription (1607)	French Transcription (1607)	German Transcription (1607)
		[11] Shorte Instruction For the Figures: So Much as Concerneth the Right Use of Muskett for the yonge or inexpert Souldier, which instruction doth orderly agree with the Cypher letters of eche figure. And because there be some figures of stilstandinghe postures here after annexed, as found fitt for sentinels to use, to shew how a souldier in tyme of neede shall stand readie with his Musket in the Musket rest, therefore are the sayd instructions following appropriated to every figure according to theyr number.

Pike

Images	No Translation	English Transcription (1607)  by Michael Chidester	Dutch Transcription (1607)	French Transcription (1607)	German Transcription (1607)
		[15] Brief Instruction upon the contrefaictinges, Concerning the Right Use, of All what a Souldier needeth to know in handling of the Pike, for the yonge or untrayned Souldier, which instruction agreeth by nomber with every figure in order.

Copyright and License Summary

For further information, including transcription and translation notes, see the discussion page.

Work	Author(s)	Source	License
Images	Jacob de Gheyn II	Rijksmuseum
Translation
Dutch Transcription		Index:Wappenhandelinghe van Roers Musquetten ende Spiessen (Jacob de Gheyn II) 1608.pdf
English Transcription	Michael Chidester	Index:The Exercise of Armes For Calivres, Muskettes, and Pikes (Jacob de Gheyn II) 1607.pdf
French Transcription		Index:Maniement d'Armes d'Arquebuses, Mousquetz, et Piques (Jacob de Gheyn II) 1608.pdf
German Transcription		Index:Waffenhandlung von den Rören Musquetten undt Spiessen (Jacob de Gheyn II) 1608.pdf