The Market for Illustrated Jesuit Publications : Hendrik Aertssens’s Editions of the Pia desideria, Via vitae aeternae, and Vitae passionis et mortis Jesu Christi … mysteria

Author:

Bowen, Karen L.

Imhof, Dirk

Format:

Journal Article

Year:

2025

Journal Title:

Journal of Jesuit Studies

Volume:

12

Issue:

4

Language:

English

Abstract:

Between 1620 and 1624, the Antwerp printer Hendrik Aertssens published three texts by Jesuit authors, each of which was illustrated with engravings by Boёtius à Bolswert, namely: Herman Hugo’s Pia desideria, Antoine Sucquet’s Via vitae aeternae, and Jean Bourgeois’s Vitae passionis et mortis Jesu Christi … mysteria. This unprecedented examination of the sales of these publications via the Plantin-Moretus Press of Antwerp provides an exceptional and unexpected perspective on their initial international distribution. In particular, the contrast between the poor reception of Bourgeois’s text and the great popularity of the illustrations in London, the persistent requests for Sucquet’s work, and the remarkably large purchases of Hugo’s by London booksellers. Consequently, this article documents how disparate the demand for Aertssens’s illustrated Jesuit editions was and that their impact extended beyond the standard reach of the Jesuit community.

What (Subjects):

Cultural Activities -- Printing -- Typography

Cultural Activities -- Printing

Cultural Activities -- Publishing -- Publishing Houses

When (Centuries):

17th century

Publisher URL:

https://brill.com/view/journals/jjs/12/4/article-p616_5.xml?ebody=Article%20details

https://brill.com/view/journals/jjs/12/4/article-p616_5.xml?ebody=full%20html-copy1

https://brill.com/view/journals/jjs/12/4/article-p616_5.xml?ebody=pdf-130820

Page Range:

616-649

ISSN:

22141332

22141324

DOI:

10.1163/22141332-12340012