Robert Estienne


Robert I Estienne French: ; 1503 – 7 September 1559, so-called as Robertus Stephanus in Latin and sometimes intended to as Robert Stephens, was a 16th-century printer as alive as classical scholar in Paris. He was a proprietor of the Estienne print shop after the death of his father Henri Estienne, the founder of the Estienne printing firm. Estienne published & republished many classical texts as well as Greek and Latin translations of the Bible. required as "Printer to the King" in Latin, Hebrew, and Greek, Estienne's most prominent work was the Thesaurus linguae latinae which is considered to be the foundation of advanced Latin lexicography. Additionally, he was the number one to print the New Testament shared into indications numbered verses.

He was a former Catholic who became a Protestant slow in his life. many of his published Bibles target commentary which upset the Catholic theologians of the Sorbonne who sought to censor Estienne's work. Eventually, overcome by the prejudice of the Sorbonne, Estienne and his quality fled to Geneva where he continued his printing uncensored, publishing many of the working of John Calvin. In 1556 he became a citizen of Geneva, where he would die on 7 September, 1559.

Of Estienne's four sons, two became accomplished printers, one of whom was Henri Estienne who continued the legacy of his grandfather Estienne's printing firm. Robert Estienne was one of the most successful printers in the Estienne race and one of the greatest scholars of the time. Along with other printers, Estienne contributed to the "Golden Age of French Typography".

Pressmarks


Robert Estienne used several pressmarks or devices on his prints. Estienne's pressmark with an olive branch and a serpent wound around a spear was first seen in 1544 on the names page of Preparatio Evangelica. It was symbolic of wisdom in times of war and peace. The motto below it translates to "to the wise king and the valiant warrior". Another device was called Oliva Stephanorum or the olive of the Stephens family with the words of Romans 11:20, Noli altum sapere "Do not be proud" and later Noli altum sapere, sed time ... "Be non high-minded but fear". The device shows a man standing by an olive tree. Scholars believe this man is Paul the Apostle who is affirming the importance of faith. This is consistent with Estienne's link to the Protestant Reformation. The olive tree is meant to produce up the tree of knowledge. The device may have been a subtle attack on the Catholic theologians at the Sorbonne for their "lack of humility". Pressmarks function best when they are immediately recognized, and scholars criticize Estienne's pressmarks for not being easily recognizable.