Cornelis Jan Witsen

Cornelis January ( sz) Witsen (* 1605 in Amsterdam, † 1669 ) was a Dutch diplomat and Amsterdam regent of the Golden Age.

Life

His parents were in January Cornelisz Witsen (1569-1636), of the tribe of Witsen, and Margrieta Oetgens van Waveren. One of Cornelis Jansz. Witsen's sons from his marriage to Catharina Claesdr Gaeff (aka Lambertsdr Opsy ) Nicolaes Witsen was, the eminent diplomat, Regent, politician and patron of the Russian Tsar Peter I.

Witsen himself began as captain of the Civil Guard. Other offices as alderman and Schout led him to the city government, which he presided as mayor in 1653, 1658, 1662 and 1667. Witsen was also Bewindhebber the Dutch West India Company and a member of the Admiralty of Amsterdam. In 1652, he was with the aim to turn the local per - Oranische mood Hollands delegate in Overijssel and Gelderland.

Witsen was an art lover and support Rembrandt in 1653 at the redemption whose house. For his homeland Witsen was present in 1656 as an envoy in England. During his stay, his son Nicolaes played with the children of the English Lord Protector Oliver Cromwell.

Witsen Inhabited since the year 1661 a town house in the Keizersgracht, which was known for his extensive library. In Egmond aan den Hoef he had a country house, which he named Tijdverdrijf ( pastime ). The poet Jan Vos wrote verses on him, the painter Bartholomeus van der Heist and the sculptor Artus Quellinus created portraits of him. Witsen also appeared as a supporter of Comenius, in whose, he trained his son privately. De also in amsterdam based anarchist Adriaan Koerbagh was condemned by Witsen. In 1662, Witsen joined together with Cornelis de Graeff, Henrick Hooft and Cornelis van Oudtshoorn on against the purchase of Rembrandt's painting The Conspiracy of Claudius Civilis, which was meant for the interior of the Amsterdam Paleis op de Dam. As a substitute, they determined for a custom built by Jürgen Ovens copy of a painting by Govert Flinck.

Gallery

Cornelis Jansz. Witsen, engraving by Bartholomeus van der Heist

Cornelis Jansz. Witsen (right) as Ksapitän the Civic Guard; Schuttersmaaltijd in de Voetboogdoelen te Amsterdam ter ere van de Vrede van Munster, 18 June 1648, painted by Bartholomeus van der Heist ( 1648)

Witsen's Wife Catharina Opsy, marble bust of Arthur Quellinus ( 1658)