Peter Schenk Biography
Peter Schenk, or Pieter Schenck or Petrus Schenck the Elder (Elberfeld, 26 December 1660 (baptized) – Leipzig or Amsterdam, 1711 (1713)), was a Dutch engraver, publisher and cartographer of the Golden Age of German origin. Pieter's father, he was a pupil of Gerard Valck. He operated in Amsterdam from 1675 or 1683 to 1711, while from 1700 he regularly visited the Leipzig Fair, where he also had a shop, later managed by his son Pieter. In 1686, together with Gerard Valck, he received a privilege for the printing and sale of his works. On 2 November 1687 he married Agata Valck, sister of the artist Gerard Valck, in Buiksloot, a suburb of Amsterdam-Noord.[1] Although Schenck never traveled to England, he nevertheless produced works for the English market like his master. The best-known publications of the Valck-Schenck partnership were the second edition of the Celestial Atlas Harmonia Macrocosmica by Andreas Cellarius (1708) and an edition of the Novus Atlas by Johannes Janssonius, entitled Atlas Anglois and published in London by David Mortier (1715). Augustus II, King of Poland and Elector of Saxony, appointed him the king's engraver. He dedicated himself above all to portrait painting, executed topographical views and represented historical, genre subjects, including gallant scenes, and biblical ones. He used the mezzotint technique since 1695, mainly for the creation of geographical maps. The Schenck family, together with their associates, were among the best-known and most prolific publishers in Amsterdam in the 18th century. Most of the atlases it published were reprints from plates purchased from other cartographers. Although not original, the works of the artist and his family were finely crafted, in keeping with the maps and engravings of the period. His sons Jan, Leonard and Pieter were his students.
