Michiel Cnobbaert
Michiel Cnobbaert | |
|---|---|
| Born | Antwerp |
| Died | 1706 |
| Occupation(s) | Printer, publisher, bookseller |
| Years active | 1652–1706 |
| Known for | Devotional, religious, polemical and legal publications; exclusive royal privileges to print legal texts in Flanders and Antwerp |
Michiel Cnobbaert or Michiel Knobbaert (active between 1652 and 1706) was a Flemish printer, publisher, and bookseller based in Antwerp during the latter half of the 17th century. His catalog featured devotional, religious, polemical texts, as well as legal publications concerning Flemish regional laws and customs.
Life
Information about Michiel Cnobbaert's biography remains scarce. He was probably born in Antwerp to the printing and publishing couple Joannes Cnobbaert and Maria de Man. Joannes was documented in 1623 near the 'Huys der Professen vande Societeyt IESV' in Antwerp and passed away in 1637. Following his death, his widow Maria managed the publishing enterprise under the name "Widow of Jan Cnobbaert."
In 1642, Jacoba Maria, believed to be Michiel's sister, married the portrait artist Jan Thomas van Ieperen. Michiel became registered as a wijnmeester (a master's son) with the Antwerp Guild of Saint Luke during 1652–1653. From the early 1670s until his death in 1706, he conducted his business at his father's former location.
Cnobbaert obtained royal privileges that granted him exclusive authorization to print legal texts issued by the counts of Flanders and suffragia in Antwerp, thereby solidifying his standing within the legal publishing sector.
Publications
His output encompassed devotional, religious, polemical writings, and legal treatises focused on customary law in Flanders and Brabant. He was particularly recognized for producing suffragia—depictions of saints collectively interceding through prayer for virtue and assistance. Situated close to the Jesuit Order's headquarters in Antwerp, he published numerous works by Jesuit authors, including editions of the Bollandists' Acta Sanctorum (1675, 1685), publications by the Jesuit founder, as well as polemical critiques against the Reformation authored by figures such as Cornelius Hazart.
Benefiting from his printing privileges specific to Antwerp, he released a variety of books addressing local customary law and legal scholarship, including contributions by Joannes Antonius Cnobbaert, thus expanding his repertoire in legal publishing.