HUBERT GOLTZIUS (1526-1583) was born in Venlo, Holland, into a family of artists, engravers and painters of German origin. The generous patronage of Marcus Laurinus, of Bruges – where he went to take up residence – allowed him to undertake a journey throughout Europe, visiting other humanists and collectionists, from whom he gathered abundant information that he would utilize later in his numismatic work.

Goltzius dedicated the rest of his life to the publication of the results of this passion. Beginning in 1557, with the impressive volume in folio of the Vivae imagines, which contains illustrations of medals 18 centimeters in diameter and several ink colors (an outstanding display of the printing techniques of Antwerp), and up until 1579, in which he published the Thesaurus rei antiquariae huberrimus, Goltzius continued to issue his luxurious volumes.

Nevertheless, upon his death he left much of his work still unpublished. It was Jacob de Bie in Antwerp during the years 1617–1620 who gathered together the first collections of these works; Plantin’s press finally decided to publish the five splendid volumes of his Opera Omnia in 1644-1645, with a frontispiece engraved by Rubens, another enthusiast of ancient medals. The Verdussen printing press, also in Antwerp, took the next important step in 1708, carefully reprinting the Plantin edition and adding to it a considerable amount of commentary.

This last and definitive version of the complete works of Goltzius – along with a Spanish translation – will be published by Studiolum, offering all the advantages of a digital edition.

In preparation.