Jan Mommaert was the name of two 17th-century printers in Brussels, father and son. Between the dates of their activity, Martine van Straeten operated a printing house under the name Widow of Jan Mommaert.
Jan (I) Mommaert
The elder Mommaert began his printing business in Brussels in 1585, his first known publication being the terms of the city's surrender to Alexander Farnese, Duke of Parma: Articulen ende conditien vanden tractate aengegaen ende ghesloten tusschen die Prince van Parma ende de stadt van Bruessele. In 1594 he printed a brief but richly illustrated account of the festive reception in Brussels of the new governor general, Archduke Ernest of Austria: Descriptio et explicatio pegmatum, arcuum et spectaculorum, quae Bruxellae Brabantiae pridie calendas februarii anno MDXCIIII exhibita fuere, sub ingressum serenissimi principis Ernesti. His shop was called simply De Druckerye and stood in the Stoofstraat behind Brussels Town Hall. Much of his printing was of the decrees of the city council. His printing mark was a hooded falcon with the motto Post tenebras spero lucem.
Widow of Jan Mommaert
After Jan Mommaert the elder's death, probably in 1627, Martine van Straeten continued the family business under the name "Widow of Jan Mommaert". In 1631 she was in trouble with the authorities for publishing papal bulls without government permission, but she was pardoned on 16 September 1631. In 1635 she printed the news pamphlet Nieuwe tydinghen uyt verscheyden quartieren van Europa, ghekomen tot Brussel tzedert den 18. tot den 23. Julii 1635, which might be an issue of an otherwise lost newspaper.
Jan (II) Mommaert
The younger Jan Mommaert was not only a printer but also a poet. He produced a much reprinted compilation of amorous, pastoral and burlesque lyrics, some of them his own work, under the titleHet Brabands nachtegaelken. His other poetic works are Stichtelyck ende vermakelyck proces and Den Christelycken dagh. He served terms on the city council in 1654, 1660 and 1666.
Publications
Jan (I) Mommaert
1585: Articulen ende conditien vanden tractate aengegaen ende ghesloten tusschen die Prince van Parma ende de stadt van Bruessele
1594: Descriptio et explicatio pegmatum, arcuum et spectaculorum, quae Bruxellae Brabantiae pridie calendas februarii anno MDXCIIII exhibita fuere, sub ingressum serenissimi principis Ernesti, Dei gratia archiducis Austriae
1600: States of Brabant, Instructie ghemaeckt by mijne heeren Staeten van Brabandt, achtervolghende der welcker men tellen sal allen de heerden van allen de schouwen
1614: Andres de Soto, Het leven van den heyligen Joseph, bruydegom onser Liever Vrouwen, translated by Franciscus Vanden Broecke
Widow of Jan Mommaert
1629: Jean Scohier, L'estat et comportement des armes
1630: Juste Damant, Manière universelle de fortifier
1635: Nieuwe tydinghen uyt verscheyden quartieren van Europa, ghekomen tot Brussel tzedert den 18. tot den 23. Julii 1635. .
