Gregorius Sickinger

Gregorius Sickinger (* 1558 in Solothurn, Switzerland, † 1631 ) was a versatile artist, whose works are known especially his large-format cityscapes. He worked as a painter, draftsman, form cutter, etcher and engraver in Switzerland and southern Germany.

Life

Gregorius Sickinger was born as the son of Armbruster's Diebold Sickinger and his wife Verena to the creek in Solothurn. His year of birth is - contrary to conflicting information in the older literature - not sure testifies. In addition to Gregory are still five siblings (Ulrich, Franz, Lienhard, Mary and Barbara ) are known. Sickinger married on 17 May 1580 his birthplace Catharina Seyler and laid there on 24 June 1584 from oath of citizenship. After the death of his first wife he married on February 5, 1595 Elisabeth Theidtrich. After her death he married on September 2, 1614 Anna Reinhard. He died impoverished in 1631 in the Solothurn hospital.

Work

Gregorius Sickinger has a variety today only created little-known works, including numerous woodcuts (for example, bookplates and book illustrations ) as well as engravings and etchings. But even wall paintings and drawings by his hand have survived. He is considered the inventor of the pantograph, which was then published by Christoph Scheiner.

His earliest dated and signed works are two bookplates of 1574th most well known are his views of the city of Fribourg ( Switzerland ), Freiburg, Solothurn and Bern. These representations are i.a. important as image sources for building and cultural history of cities shown. Of importance also are his woodcuts for various editions of Sebastian Münster's Cosmographia.