John Roettiers
Encyclopedia
John Roettiers was a celebrated British engraver and medallist.
Roettiers was the oldest son of Philip Roettiers, a goldsmith
of Antwerp. He took up the profession of stonecutter and medallist, with his earliest known productions being dated 1658 and 1660. In 1661 Charles II of England
invited Roettiers and his brother Joseph
(and subsequently a third brother Philip) to join the British Royal Mint
, and by 1662 Roettiers was one of the mint's chief engravers. He produced many important medals throughout the reign of Charles II, including a new Great Seal in 1666–1667. He also produced the official coronation medals of James II of England
(1685) and William and Mary
(1689). He died in 1703 and was buried in the Tower.
Roettiers was widely credited as one of the best engravers ever employed at the English mint. John Evelyn
termed him "that excellent engraver... who emulates even the ancients in stone and metal" (Diary
, 20 July 1678), and Samuel Pepys
declared his medals to be "some of the finest pieces of work, in embossed work, that I ever did see in my life" (Diary, 26 March 1666).
His sons James Roettiers (1663–1698) and Norbert Roettiers
(1665–1727) were also famed engravers and medallists both in England
and in France
.
Roettiers was the oldest son of Philip Roettiers, a goldsmith
Goldsmith
A goldsmith is a metalworker who specializes in working with gold and other precious metals. Since ancient times the techniques of a goldsmith have evolved very little in order to produce items of jewelry of quality standards. In modern times actual goldsmiths are rare...
of Antwerp. He took up the profession of stonecutter and medallist, with his earliest known productions being dated 1658 and 1660. In 1661 Charles II of England
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
invited Roettiers and his brother Joseph
Joseph Roettiers
Joseph Roettiers was a Flemish medallist active in England and France, and a member of the celebrated Roettier family of goldsmiths, silversmiths, and engravers....
(and subsequently a third brother Philip) to join the British Royal Mint
Royal Mint
The Royal Mint is the body permitted to manufacture, or mint, coins in the United Kingdom. The Mint originated over 1,100 years ago, but since 2009 it operates as Royal Mint Ltd, a company which has an exclusive contract with HM Treasury to supply all coinage for the UK...
, and by 1662 Roettiers was one of the mint's chief engravers. He produced many important medals throughout the reign of Charles II, including a new Great Seal in 1666–1667. He also produced the official coronation medals of James II of England
James II of England
James II & VII was King of England and King of Ireland as James II and King of Scotland as James VII, from 6 February 1685. He was the last Catholic monarch to reign over the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland...
(1685) and William and Mary
William and Mary
The phrase William and Mary usually refers to the coregency over the Kingdoms of England, Scotland and Ireland, of King William III & II and Queen Mary II...
(1689). He died in 1703 and was buried in the Tower.
Roettiers was widely credited as one of the best engravers ever employed at the English mint. John Evelyn
John Evelyn
John Evelyn was an English writer, gardener and diarist.Evelyn's diaries or Memoirs are largely contemporaneous with those of the other noted diarist of the time, Samuel Pepys, and cast considerable light on the art, culture and politics of the time John Evelyn (31 October 1620 – 27 February...
termed him "that excellent engraver... who emulates even the ancients in stone and metal" (Diary
John Evelyn's Diary
The Diary of John Evelyn, a gentlemanly Royalist and virtuoso of the seventeenth century, was first published in 1818 under the title Memoirs Illustrative of the Life and Writings of John Evelyn, in an edition by William Bray. Bray was assisted by William Upcott, who had access to the Evelyn family...
, 20 July 1678), and Samuel Pepys
Samuel Pepys
Samuel Pepys FRS, MP, JP, was an English naval administrator and Member of Parliament who is now most famous for the diary he kept for a decade while still a relatively young man...
declared his medals to be "some of the finest pieces of work, in embossed work, that I ever did see in my life" (Diary, 26 March 1666).
His sons James Roettiers (1663–1698) and Norbert Roettiers
Norbert Roettiers
Norbert Roettiers was a celebrated Flanders-born engraver of currency and medals in both England and France. With his elder brother James he was named Engraver-General to the British Royal Mint in 1695....
(1665–1727) were also famed engravers and medallists both in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.