Dirck Volckertsz Coornhert

Born 1522 or 1519, in Amsterdam; died 29 October 1590, in Gouda.

Draughtsman, engraver, writer.

Haarlem School

After visiting Spain and Portugal, Dirk Coornhert married Neeltze Simons; he left his place at court and settled in Haarlem as an engraver. A theological student until the age of 30, he became a notary in 1561, Secretary of the Council of Haarlem in 1564 and Secretary of the Netherland Estates in 1572. He had to flee to Xanthe to escape the persecution of the Protestants. Coornhert lived in Haarlem from 1577 to 1587, and then in Gouda. He was a friend of Frans Floris, Heemskerk and Bruegel.

"COORNHERT, Dirk Volkertsz." In Benezit Dictionary of Artists. Oxford Art Online, http://www.oxfordartonline.com.proxy.lib.fsu.edu/subscriber/article/benezit/B00041841 (accessed May 3, 2012).