L. Rotgans - L. Rotgans Poëzy - 1715

Lukas Rotgans Poetry, decorated with various mixed materials with art plates - Leeuwarden, François Halma, 1715 - first edition - 14,(64),680 pages - 19.5 x 25 cm.

Condition: very good. Engraved title page, engraved title vignette, 1 in-text engraving, 2 full-page engravings, 45 emblematic illustrations, contemporary vellum binding. A tear in the frontispiece. Paper here and there somewhat browned. Binding slightly rubbed. Overall in good condition. A book that breathes history.


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Lukas Rotgans (Amsterdam, born in November 1653, baptized on November 26, 1653 – Maarssen, November 3 or 4, 1710) was a Dutch writer. His work is considered part of French classicism in the Netherlands.

Rotgans descended from an old and wealthy Amsterdam family. He was the son of Jacob Rotgans, commissioner of the muster of Holland, and Maria Magdalena Timmerman, who lived in Nijenrode on the Vecht. Because his parents died early, Rotgans was raised by his grandmother, who lived in Cromwijck, also on the Vecht. Rotgans attended the Latin school in Utrecht. He never had to hold a position to earn his bread. His books were partly published by his friend François Halma from Leeuwarden.

At the outbreak of the war in the disaster year 1672, he joined the army, where he became an ensign. He left the army again in 1674 because there was no promotion for him. Cromwijck, which was destroyed during the war, he had rebuilt, either alone or together with his grandmother.

After the Peace of Nijmegen (1678), he traveled to Paris and was influenced by French court culture. Back in Cromwijck, he married Anna Adriana de Salengre in 1687, who died in 1689. The couple had two daughters and a son, who died young. Only after the death of his wife did Rotgans's poetry flourish. Rotgans also lived in Utrecht, where he was officially registered, in addition to Cromwijck.

Rotgans died of smallpox, at that time called 'the childhood disease.' He was buried in Breukelen. (cf. Wikipedia)