Abraham Gorlaeus

Who was Abraham Gorlaeus?

Abraham Gorlaeus was a Flemish antiquary whose publication of engraved gems in his Cabinet of curiosities, Dactiliotheca was the first published extensive repertory of Greco-Roman intaglio gems, which had been avidly collected for the previous century, at first in Italy. In 1609, his cabinet was purchased on behalf of Henry, Prince of Wales, an isolated early example of English interest in engraved gems. Gorlaeus' Dactyliotheca remained useful for the rest of the century; it was republished by Jakob Gronovius in 1695, as part of his Thesaurus antiquitatum Graecarum. and in this form was reprinted as late as 1645.

In his cabinet of curiosities, Gorlaeus had a collection of rare shells, which was of sufficient interest to be purchased by the States-General of Holland as a present for Marie de' Medici, for 9000 guilders.