1. Robert Estienne was the proprietor of the Estienne print shop after the death of his father Henri Estienne, the founder of the Estienne printing firm.
43 Facts About Robert Estienne
1. 2.
Robert Estienne published and republished many classical texts as well as Greek and Latin translations of the Bible.
3.
The second son of the famous humanist printer Henri Robert Estienne, he became knowledgeable in Latin, Greek, and Hebrew.
4.
Colines was known for his exquisite type cutting, whereas Robert Estienne was known for his accuracy.
5.
In 1526, Robert Estienne assumed control of his father's printing shop while Colines established his own firm nearby.
6.
Robert Estienne was in the process of publishing a Latin version of the Bible as he searched Paris for manuscripts.
7.
Robert Estienne had already printed a New Testament, and some slight alterations which he had introduced into the text brought upon him the censures of the faculty of theology.
8.
Robert Estienne married Perrette Badius in 1526 whose father Josse Badius Ascensius owned a print shop, giving Robert Estienne the resources to print that he lacked from his father's materials alone.
9.
Robert Estienne's trade was primarily as printer-bookseller and though he did publish his own prints, he did not publish in partnership with other printers as was a common practice for printers of the time.
10.
Robert Estienne printed works from Horace and Persisus, but he printed them far less frequently.
11.
Robert Estienne nearly tripled the number of authors' works he published from 1541 to 1545.
12.
Many of Robert Estienne's published classics, especially the Greek editions, were famous for their typographical elegance.
13.
The editiones principes issued from Robert Estienne's press were eight in number.
14.
Robert Estienne began with the Historia ecclesiastica and ended with Appian.
15.
Robert Estienne printed numerous editions of Latin classics, of which the folio Virgil of 1532 is the most noteworthy.
16.
Robert Estienne printed a large number of Latin grammars and other educational works, many of which were written by Mathurin Cordier, his friend and co-worker in the cause of humanism.
17.
Robert Estienne was trained as a punchcutter, but no font has been identified as his.
18.
Robert Estienne did oversee the work of the best punchcutters of the time such as Claude Garamond and Guillaume Le Be.
19.
Under Robert Estienne, Garamond designed the Greek type used by the King of France which was used to print the first edition of Roman History.
20.
Consequently, Robert Estienne was the first printer granted permission to use the grecs du roi or Greek types of the king.
21.
One of the best printers of his time, Robert Estienne was asked to either compile a dictionary from the best Latin authors or make one himself; in 1531 he published Thesaurus linguae latinae, which is considered by some scholars to be the foundation of modern Latin lexicography.
22.
Robert Estienne had worked on it for two years, with the assistance only of Thierry of Beauvais.
23.
Robert Estienne's thesaurus was alphabetical based on the first three letters of the word, then grouped etymologically.
24.
Robert Estienne was interested in working on original texts rather than translations.
25.
Robert Estienne published two editions of the Hebrew Bible: one in 13 volumes and another one in 10 volumes.
26.
Robert Estienne acquired Vulgate manuscripts while in Paris and printed a number of editions throughout his career.
27.
Robert Estienne was protected by Francis I of France with whom he enjoyed strong patronage and friendship; Estienne aided Francis I in printing documents ratifying policies which established and justified his power.
28.
Later, Robert Estienne published a document to inform the public how alliances between French royalty, German Protestants, and Turkish royalty were beneficial for European religious peace.
29.
In 1538, Francis I requested that Robert Estienne give a copy of every Greek book he had printed to create the royal library, which became the first copyright library.
30.
However, after Francis I died in 1547 and was succeeded by Henry II, Robert Estienne fled to Geneva around 1550.
31.
On his arrival at Geneva, Robert Estienne published a defense against the attacks of the Sorbonne in 1552 called his Reponse.
32.
Robert Estienne later translated it into French and published it again.
33.
Robert Estienne established his printing firm in Geneva and his brother Charles helped run the firm in Paris.
34.
However, after Charles died in a debtors' prison, Robert Estienne II took over the business.
35.
In Geneva, Robert Estienne issued the French Bible in 1553 and many of John Calvin's writings, including the Institutio in 1553.
36.
Robert Estienne was one of the most successful printers in the Estienne family, and one of the best scholars of the time.
37.
Robert Estienne used several pressmarks or devices on his prints.
38.
Robert Estienne encouraged his four sons to study and perfect his professions.
39.
Robert Estienne's will indicated that he wished all of his sons follow in his profession.
40.
Robert Estienne II studied Hebrew as his father recommended.
41.
Robert Estienne earned the title of Typographus regius in 1563.
42.
Robert Estienne printed the Decalogue in Hebrew and Aramaic in 1566.
43.
Additionally, Robert Estienne printed books in Hebrew for professors in Paris, but fled to Geneva in 1569, because he worked for Anglican clients.