Jan Moretus


Jan Moretus, also John Moerentorf or 'Joannes Moretus', was a Flemish printer.
Moretus was born in Antwerp and married the second daughter of the publisher Christoffel Plantin in 1570. He had been working for Plantin since 1557 and, after Plantin's death, Jan Moretus would become the owner of the printing company. Under his management, the company focused on 12mo format for text books, doing away with the smaller handbook favored under his predecessor.

Projects

Some of the notable projects published by Moretus include Benito Arias Montano's Anima, an eight-book series detailing the history of humanity from the Creation through its regeneration with Christ's birth. He has also collaborated with theologians in the publication of religious texts. For example, he worked with the Flemish scholar Henricus Sedulius during the publication of Bonaventure's The Life of St. Francis.
Moretus' works and archives are held in the Plantin-Moretus Museum in Antwerp.