JOACHIM OTTENS, CAPELLE AND 'T HUIS TE BRUCELIS

JOACHIM OTTENS CAPELLE AND 'T HUIS TE BRUCELIS JOACHIM OTTENS Amsterdam 1663–1719 Amsterdam Etching and engraving on paper, signed "CAPELLE en 't Huis te Brucelis" and "Ottens exc. Amst." 19.6 x 26.2 cm / 7.7 x 10.3 in, framed 32.4 x 38.4 cm / 12.8 x 15.1 in PROVENANCE Private collection, Vienna This elegant engraving offers a view of the village of Capelle and the residence known as 't Huis te Brucelis, probably a noble estate located near Brussels. In the foreground opens a formal garden with balanced geometries, bordered by tree-lined avenues that guide the eye towards a large towered building, surrounded by walls and a moat. A bridge connects the estate to the outside world, while on the right some figures in 17th-century attire converse and stroll with a dog, evoking a moment of refined leisure. The composition, precise but rich in atmosphere, combines topographical fidelity with a narrative charm, evoking a world of cultivated elegance. Although published under the name of the Ottens brothers, the composition and the style of the costumes suggest that the original plate may have been made by their father, Joachim Ottens, at the end of the 17th century and subsequently reprinted by his sons at the beginning of the 18th century. ABOUT THE PUBLISHERS: REINER AND JOSHUA OTTENS AND THE AMSTERDAM DYNASTY Reiner Ottens (1698–1750) and Joshua Ottens (1704–1765) belonged to a renowned dynasty of cartographers and engravers from Amsterdam, active for over a century. Their father, Joachim Ottens (1663–1719), came from a family of navigators and was trained within the Evangelical Lutheran community of the city. In his youth, he collaborated with the celebrated cartographer Frederik de Wit and, already in the 1680s, founded his own publishing workshop, specializing in maps, architectural drawings, and ornamental prints. The activity was continued by his widow and later by his sons. The Ottens family owned several properties in the heart of Amsterdam, including locations in Nieuwendijk and Kalverstraat, and was deeply integrated into the intellectual and commercial life of the city. The workshop operated under the sign "De Werelt Kaart" ("The World Map"), emphasizing the cartographic vocation of the enterprise. The family actively participated in the Guild of engravers and art dealers, obtaining the official status of poorter (citizen) and gildelid (guild member). After Joachim's death in 1719, the company passed to his two younger sons, Reiner and Joshua. Their professional collaboration was formalized in 1726 with a contract that regulated every aspect, from cohabitation to responsibilities in the workshop, to rights in case of marriage. Upon Reiner's death in 1750, Joshua continued the activity, and documents attest that the latter's widow maintained it at least until the late 1770s. Although the Ottens family is sometimes associated with Jewish origins—perhaps due to Joachim's roots or his environment—official documents confirm membership in the Lutheran community of Amsterdam. The city then offered a cosmopolitan environment, in which individuals of Jewish, Protestant, German, and Flemish origin interacted closely. It was in this multilingual and multicultural context that the Ottens publishing house developed its distinctive style and its success. The Ottens brothers have left a rich legacy, which includes engravings such as these views of Capelle and Renisse, as well as maps, atlases, architectural plates, and decorative prints. Their works reflect not only the technical mastery of engraving, but also the high level of organization and entrepreneurial vision that made their enterprise an integral part of the cultural fabric of Amsterdam in the 18th century.