Year

Events in Hollar’s Life

World Events

1607

Wenceslaus Hollar born in July 13th at 8:00 AM in Prague-Neustadt. 

His father is Johan Hollar who was a registrar of the Law Court of Bohemia.  His father had been granted arms by Emperor Rudolph II in 1660 with the title “Prachna”, the equivalent of an English Baronet. Johan was a protestant and either for hosting a conventicle, or being arrested at one, forfeited his estate, and was ruined.

Wenceslaus’ mother is Margaret, daughter of David Löw of Löwengrün and Bareyt, Knight of the Holy Roman Empire.

Wenceslaus’ parents status as minor nobility undoubtedly helped him later gain access to the English royal court. 

1608                  

John Milton, author of Paradise Lost, born. 

1613

Wenceslaus’ mother dies.  His father later remarries.

1618

As a schoolboy he delighted in drawing maps.  His father intended that he would follow in his footsteps and become a lawyer, but the loss of the family estate and the ongoing religious wars made this unattainable. Wenceslaus fell back on his skills he learned by making maps for amusement.

The Thirty Year War begins with the The Bohemian Revolt in Prague.     Heirless, Emperor Matthias had sought to ensure an orderly transition after his death by having his dynastic heir, a Catholic Ferdinand of Styria, later Ferdinand II, Holy Roman Emperor, elected to the separate royal thrones of Bohemia and Hungary. Some of the Protestant leaders of Bohemia feared they would be losing the religious rights. They preferred fellow Protestant Frederick V,  Ferdinand was duly elected by the Bohemian estates to become the Crown Prince, and automatically upon the death of Matthias, the next King of Bohemia. The king-elect then sent two Catholic councillors as his representatives to Hradčany castle in Prague in May 1618 to rule in his absence. According to legend, the Bohemian Hussites grapped them and threw them out of the palace window, which was some 50 feet off the ground. They landed in a pile of manure, which saved their lives.
This event, known as the Second Defenestration of Prague, is what started the Bohemian Revolt. Soon afterward the Bohemian conflict spread through central Europe and involved the German states, Denmark, Sweden and France.

1620

The Mayflower Pilgrims arrives in what is now Plymouth, Massachusetts.

1625- 1626

Wenceslaus practices by coping Dürer’s works.

King Charles I ascends the throne in 1625

John Aubrey born in 1626. He is the author of Brief Lives, a collection of biographies, including Wenceslaus Hollar.

1627

Hollar leaves Prague for Frankfort to apprentice with Matthaeus Merian the elder.  By November he moves to Stuttgart.

Robert Boyle, founder of modern chemistry is born.

1628

Around March Wenceslaus moves to Strassburg where he works on commissions for publisher Jacob van der Heyden.

Parliament is dismissed for eleven years. This time is called "Eleven Years' Tyranny" or "Charles's Personal Rule".

1629/30

Wenceslaus travels down the Rhine river from Strassburg to Cologne.

1630-1636

Wenceslaus lives in Cologne working for the publishers Abraham Hogenberg and Gerhardt Altzenbach and others.

1630

Wenceslaus’ father Johan dies in Prague.

1631

The Bell Tolls for John Donne, great writer of metaphysical poetry. 

1632

Wenceslaus visits to Mainz and Frankfort

Known as 'Black Tom Tyrant' by the Irish, Thomas Wentworth, Lord Deputy of Ireland, ruled Ireland with an iron hand.

English Philosopher John Locke born.

1633

In August, King Charles appointed William Laud as Archbishop of Canterbury. Laud was known to have Catholic leanings and Charles hoped
this appointment would help to stop the rise of the Puritans.

Samuel Pepys born. His diary provides a detailed account of life in London, the Navy and the Court,

1634

Wenceslaus visits the Netherlands, spending time in Düren.

The Ship Money tax in England, paid by coastal towns for the upkeep of the Royal Navy was imposed on inland towns by King Charles.

1635

The landscape series, Amoenissimae aliquot locorum effigies” published  by Hogenberg in Cologne.

1636

The “Reisbüchlein” published  by Hogenberg in Cologne.

In May, Hollar meets Thomas Howard, Lord High Marshall, Earl of Arundel and Surrey. Lord Arundel was passing though Cologne on a diplomatic mission to Emperor Ferdinand II. 

6th-13th July Hollar’s last visit to Prague.

16th October the Emperor grants Hollar his mother’s title and arms.  His full name becomes “Prachenberger von Löwengrün und Bareyt”.

At the end of the year, Hollar moves to England and lives in Arundel House in the Strand as Caelator (engraver) to Lord Arundel.

1637

Hollar etches his first English plates.  He married Ms. Tracey the Earl’s wife’s lady in waiting.

1638

Hollar introduced in to the royal court.

John Hampden, challenged the King's right to impose the Ship Money  tax but he lost the case and the court ruled that the King was the only authority that could impose such a tax.

In February King Charles demanded that the Anglican Book of Common Prayer be used in the Scottish Kirk (church). The Calvinist-dominated Scottish church refused and there were riots. 

1639

Hollar becomes the Teacher of Drawing in the royal household. His students include the future Charles II.

Thomas Wentworth led an army against the Scots but was defeated on the border and had been forced to sign a temporary truce at Berwick. Wentworth told the King that in order to raise an efficient army he must recall Parliament. Charles, who had enjoyed his eleven years tyranny, was forced to recall Parliament.

Jost Amman’s Habitus Praecipuorem Populorem, was reissued in Ulm in under the title Gynaecceum sive Theatrum Mulierum.  Considered to be the first fashion magazine, it has woodcuts depicting a variety of women’s clothing.

French Dramatist Jean Baptiste Racine born.

1640

Hollar produces 27 plates for his  “Ornatus Muliebris Anglicanus or the Severall Habits of English Women from the Nobilitie to the Contry Women as They are in this Time”.  Depicting the fashions of English women, it was the immediate predecessor the Theatrum Mulierum.

13th April, The Short Parliament refused to authorise any new taxes until the King agreed to abandon 'ship money'. The King said that he
would only abandon ship money if Parliament would grant him enough money to re-open the war with Scotland.

October, Thomas Wentworth, now Earl of Strafford, set out for the Scottish border with a makeshift army. However, the army mutinied and the Scots seized English land. The Scots demanded a daily rate
be paid until a satisfactory treaty was put in place.

October  21, the Treaty of Ripon
between Scotland and England allowed the Scots to stay in Durham.

November, the Long Parliament offers King Charles money to pay for an efficient army with which to defeat the Scots, but not until he agreed to Parliament's demands which included an Act which stated that parliament should meet once every five years,
and the arrest of the Earl of Strafford for treason. Charles had no choice but to comply.

1641

4th July marries Tracy, a lady in waiting.

May 20th, Thomas Wentworth, Earl of Strafford, was executed on Tower
Hill. This event was recorded by Hollar in an etching.

In late summer, a revolt broke out in Ireland. Parliament critical of the King's handling of matters in both Ireland and Scotland, passed
propositions that the Parliament and not the King should be responsible for the country's defense.

October 22nd, The revolt leads to a Catholic rebellion in Ulster which quickly spread across the country.

In November the Grand Remonstrance put together by Pym, listed parliament's grievances against the King since his reign began.

1642

Hollar’s patron Earl Arundel flees England.

Hollar enters the household of the Duke of York (later Charles II) as “serviteur domestique”
67 plates in 1642.

On January 4th, King Charles instructed his attorney-general to issue a charge of treason against one lord and five members of Parliament. When Parliament refused to recognize the charge, Charles sent troops to make the arrests. Having  been warned, the five men fled. This was extremely unpopular and across the country people declared themselves for Parliament.

Charles sent his wife to the Continent with the crown jewels to buy arms and enlist Catholic support for his cause against Parliament.

On August 22nd King Charles raised his standard at Nottingham formally declaring war on Parliament, stating the English Civil War.

Galileo dies. 

Isaac Newton born.

Rembrandt’s wife Saskia dies.  This is also the year he paints his masterpiece, 'The Night Watch'

1643

Wenceslaus’ son James born at Tart Hall near London.  A daughter is born latter.

He products some 40 plates this year.

Theatrum Mulierum is first published with 36 to 48 plates. The earliest group of prints were Bohemian and Austrian women. 

1644

There is a legend of Hollar being captured and escaping at the siege at Basing House.

Hollar flees England for Antwerp with his family.  After arriving he joins the Guild of St. Mark.

Wenceslaus took the Theatrum Mulierum plates with him and continued the series under the name Aula Veneris.  German subtitles were added for a continental audience.

William Penn, founder of Pennsylvania born.  

1645

Between 1645-1651, Hollar makes 360 plates.

On 14th June at the Battle of Naseby, the Parliamentarians broke their siege on Oxford and forced the Royalists into battle. Initially the Royalists took up a defensive stance but later the order to attack was given. The battle lasted just three hours and saw the death of most of the Royalist foot soldiers. It was a decisive victory for Parliament.

1646

Earl Arundel dies in Padua, Italy, where he had gone for health reasons.

1648

The Thirty Year War ends.  It is estimated that half the population of Germany died.  The Austrian Habsburg dynasty was reduced to only a shadow.  

1649

January 20th Charles I goes on trial for treason.  He is found guilty and sentenced to death.

January 30th Charles I executed.  Hollar distributes a memorial etching.

1650

French Philosopher Rene Descartes dies. 

1652

The Hollar family returns to England. Wenceslaus is arrested at Hixeshall and later freed by intervention of Sir William Dugdale, a friend and new patron.

Wenceslaus works for Dugdale, Ogilby, Ashmore  and others.

The Act of Pardon and Oblivion is enacted by the republican government of the Commonwealth of England.  This was a blanket pardon of the Royalist who opposed the Parliament forces during the civil war.

The Navigation Acts leads to the  Anglo-Dutch Wars.

1653

1653-1658, The Protectorate under Oliver Cromwell

1654

The Hollar family lives with William Faithmore near Temple bar, who was a line-engraver.     They also lived and worked with print sellers Peter Stent and John Overton.

1656

Astronomer Edmund Halley born.

Rembrandt declares bankruptcy.

1658

3 September 1658, Death of Oliver Cromwell

1660

4th September, Charles II appeals to Lord Mayor Thomas Aleyn to commission map of London from Hollar.  He produces a series of panoramic views of London.

On 8 May A reconstituted Parliament proclaims that King Charles II had been the lawful monarch since the execution of his father and he returnsfrom exile.

Daniel Defoe, author of Robinson Crusoe is born.

1661

On 23 April 1661, Charles II was crowned at Westminster Abbey. Hollar commemorates The Restoration in an etching.

On January 30th, the 12th anniversary of the beheading of Charles I, the exhumed remains of Oliver Cromwell were posthumously executed. Cromwell's severed head was displayed on a pole outside Westminster Abbey until 1685.

1665

Wenceslas’ James son dies in the Great Plague.

Hollar marries Honora, who bears several children and outlives her husband.

The Great Plague on London claims 68,576 lives between April and September according to The Bills of Mortality, but it is estimated closer to 100,000 actually perished.

Isaac Newton invents calculus and Newtonian physics.

1666

On November 21st Hollar is granted the title “Scenographus regius” grated and entered into the “List of His Majesties Servents in Ordinary above Stairs” as “Scenographer or designer of prospects”. The words “Scenographus Regis” appear on a few 2nd states.

The Great Fire of London starts on Sunday, September 2nd in the king's bakery in Pudding Lane and raged until the last flickers were finally extinguished on Thursday night. More than 13,000 houses, 87 churches and the main buildings in the city were all destroyed. While only five deaths were documented, 200,000 people were left destitute.  Hollar’s etchings of the London commissioned in 1660 were invaluable in determining property ownership during the rebuilding of the city.

1667

The King grants Hollar £ 50 “as a voluntary present and royal reward” to be paid by the King’s revenue of Cornwall.

In June, the Dutch navy sails up the River Thames and later at the Battle of Chatham burn 13 English Ships and capture two warships including the flag ship Royal Charles.

1668

Leaves with Lord Henry Howard’s expedition to Tangiers to sketch the fortifications.  He is paid £100 for the work.

1669

On 29th December, the ship Mary Rose carrying the expedition home was attacked by African pirates.

Rembrandt van Rijn dies, leaving over 650 oil paintings, 2000 drawings and studies, and 300 etchings.

In October  Sam Pepys stops writing

1672

Hollar visits the North of England.

1674

John Milton dies. 

1677

On 25th March, Wenceslas Hollar dies.  He is buried on 28th March in St. Margaret’s Westminster.