1. Nicolaas Rockox was a close personal friend and important patron of Peter Paul Rubens.
18 Facts About Nicolaas Rockox
1. 2.
Nicolaas Rockox's residence in Antwerp was a centre where Antwerp's humanists and artists congregated and housed a large collection of artworks, antiques, rare objects and coins.
3.
Nicolaas Rockox was knighted by Archduke Albert and Isabella, the Governor General of the Habsburg Netherlands.
4.
Nicolaas Rockox was born in de Keizerstraat in Antwerp as the oldest son of Adriaan II and Isabella van Olmen.
5.
Nicolaas Rockox's wife was a neighbor in the Keizerstraat and the daughter of the wealthy merchant and banker Luis Perez and Maria van Berchem.
6.
Nicolaas Rockox was put on the list of honours when their Joyous Entry took place.
7.
In 1603 Nicolaas Rockox bought the house named Gulden Rinck in the Keizersstraat and developed it into his main residence.
8.
Nicolaas Rockox's collection included a Samson and Delilah painted for him by his friend Rubens.
9.
Nicolaas Rockox commissioned several paintings from him, including The Nicolaas Rockox Triptych.
10.
Nicolaas Rockox held other important posts including Justice of the Peace, guild master of the Cloth Hall, head of the Arquebusiers' Guild, chief treasurer and head of the civic guard.
11.
Nicolaas Rockox died in the Gulden Rinck and was buried in the church of the Recollect convent, where he had a private chapel built for his deceased wife in 1619.
12.
Nicolaas Rockox commanded that a public reserve of grain be prepared for the poor in case of war or siege.
13.
Nicolaas Rockox paid 45,300 florins for this from his private fortune.
14.
At the time of his death, Nicolaas Rockox had 82 paintings in his personal collection, of which several by Rubens.
15.
Nicolaas Rockox commissioned Frans Francken to make a painting of his art chamber.
16.
Nicolaas Rockox was an avid coin collector and kept a detailed catalague annotated in his own hand.
17.
Nicolaas Rockox's collection was extensive and included Greek and Roman coins from the 5th century BC through to the 2nd century AD.
18.
Nicolaas Rockox corresponded with Nicolas Claude Fabri de Peiresc, the renowned French humanist, botanist and numismatist who was a friend of Rubens.