Hessel Gerritsz. Hessel Gerritsz was a Dutch engraver, cartographer, and publisher.
He was one of the notable figures in the Golden Age of Netherlandish cartography. Despite strong competition, he is considered by some unquestionably the chief Dutch cartographer of the 17th century.
He started in Alkmaar as an apprentice to Willem Jansz Blaeu, who was ten years his elder. Gerritsz moved with Blaeu's workshop to Amsterdam, where he married Geertje Gijsberts of Alkmaar in 1607.
They had eight children. Geertje would die before 1624, when Hessel remarried.
By 1610 he had a printing workshop on his own. Many of his engravings and maps made it into the atlases of Blaeu, Jan Janssonius, and others. Gerritsz produced a world map in 1612 that included the discoveries of Queirós and specifically indicated Austrialia del Espiritu Santo, now known to be Vanuatu, but for long thought to be part of the South land. The map was very influential on Dutch and French representations of the South Pacific in the 17th and 18th centuries, and was together with Queirós' publications influential in establishing the name Australia. In 1613, Gerritsz wrote and published a History of the land named Spitsbergen, describing the discovery, early voyages and whaling activities on these islands. This volume also showcases Gerritsz's considerable talents as an engraver. The same year, he edited a map of Russia prepared by the
He was one of the notable figures in the Golden Age of Netherlandish cartography. Despite strong competition, he is considered by some unquestionably the chief Dutch cartographer of the 17th century.
He started in Alkmaar as an apprentice to Willem Jansz Blaeu, who was ten years his elder. Gerritsz moved with Blaeu's workshop to Amsterdam, where he married Geertje Gijsberts of Alkmaar in 1607.
They had eight children. Geertje would die before 1624, when Hessel remarried.
By 1610 he had a printing workshop on his own. Many of his engravings and maps made it into the atlases of Blaeu, Jan Janssonius, and others. Gerritsz produced a world map in 1612 that included the discoveries of Queirós and specifically indicated Austrialia del Espiritu Santo, now known to be Vanuatu, but for long thought to be part of the South land. The map was very influential on Dutch and French representations of the South Pacific in the 17th and 18th centuries, and was together with Queirós' publications influential in establishing the name Australia. In 1613, Gerritsz wrote and published a History of the land named Spitsbergen, describing the discovery, early voyages and whaling activities on these islands. This volume also showcases Gerritsz's considerable talents as an engraver. The same year, he edited a map of Russia prepared by the
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