John Gaspar Gevartius or Jan Caspar Gevaerts (1593–1666) was the jurisconsult of Antwerp and in his lifetime a famous philologist. He was a personal friend of Peter Paul Rubens.
Life Gaspar was born in Turnhout on 6 August 1593,P. Rombouts and T. Van Lerius (eds.), De Liggeren en andere historische archieven der Antwerpsche Sint Lucasgilde (Antwerp, n.d.), p. 592. the son of Johannes Gevaerts (1553–1613) and Cornelia Aerssens, whose father had been mayor of Bergen op Zoom. He was educated by the Jesuits, going on to study the Liberal Arts at Louvain University. He was briefly in the service of Benjamin Aubery du Maurier, French Ambassador in The Hague, where he became friends with Daniel Heinsius, writing an epithalamium on his marriage.Louis Roersch, "Gevaerts, Jean-Gaspard", Biographie Nationale de Belgique, vol. 7 (Brussels, 1884), 694-700. In 1617 he moved to Paris, entering the household of Henri de Mesmes. In 1621 he was granted a law degree by the University of Douai.
After 1621 he became an important functionary of the city government of Antwerp. He wrote works on poetry and sciences, one of which treats of Marcus Aurelius. His reputation was known by the Archduchess Isabella Clara Eugenia and Emperor Ferdinand III.Edward Walmsley, "Physiognomical portraits, 100 characters from originals, engr. by British ...", 1822 Pierre Gassendi's biography of Nicolas Peiresc mentions that in 1620 he consulted Gevartius, "a famous and (if ever any) a true Schollar", about the Duke of Aarschot's cabinet of curiosities.The Mirrour of True Nobility and Gentility, translated by W. Rand (London, 1657), p. 201. He was appointed councillor of state and historiographer royal by both Philip IV of Spain and the Emperor Ferdinand III.L. Roersch, "Gevaerts, Jean-Gaspard", Biographie Nationale de Belgique, vol. 7 (Brussels, 1884), 694-700.
On 14 May 1625 Gevartius married Marie Haecx in the church of St James in Antwerp.P. Rombouts and T. Van Lerius (eds.), De Liggeren en andere historische archieven der Antwerpsche Sint Lucasgilde (Antwerp, n.d.), p. 592. Their son died at the age of 12; their daughter married Charles Sivori, whose father, Anthonie Sivori, served eleven terms as mayor of Antwerp.L. Roersch, "Gevaerts, Jean-Gaspard", Biographie Nationale de Belgique, vol. 7 (Brussels, 1884), 694-700.
In 1625, 1627 and 1632 he served as secretary to the Antwerp branch of the Sodality of Our Lady.P. Rombouts and T. Van Lerius (eds.), De Liggeren en andere historische archieven der Antwerpsche Sint Lucasgilde (Antwerp, n.d.), p. 592. He was admitted to citizenship of the city of Antwerp on 11 September 1632.P. Rombouts and T. Van Lerius (eds.), De Liggeren en andere historische archieven der Antwerpsche Sint Lucasgilde (Antwerp, n.d.), p. 592.
He was a personal friend of Rubens, and had a portrait painted by him and Paul de Vos with a bust of Marcus Aurelius. He took care of Albert Rubens (1614–1657) when his father was on mission of the Archduke. Correspondence between Gevartius and Rubens is conserved in the Royal Library of Belgium.[Brief aan Caspar Gevartius] = [ms. II 627 / 3] / P.P. Rubens He worked together with Rubens and Theodoor van Thulden on the Pompa introitus honori Serenissimi Principis Ferdinandi Austriaci Hispaniarum Infantis ...The magnificent ceremonial entry into Antwerp of His Royal Highness Ferdinand of Austria on the fifteenth day of May, 1635 / Designed by Peter Paul Rubens; With descriptive text by Casperius Gevartius, and engravings... by Theodor van Thulden.
Gevartius received the tonsure in the chapel of the bishop of Antwerp on 8 February 1665. He died in Antwerp on 23 March 1666 and was buried in the Cathedral of Our Lady.P. Rombouts and T. Van Lerius (eds.), De Liggeren en andere historische archieven der Antwerpsche Sint Lucasgilde (Antwerp, n.d.), p. 592.
Works Publii Papinii Statii Opera omnia, Leiden, 1616 Electorum libri III. In quibus plurima veterum scriptorum loca obscura & controuersa explicantur, illustrantur & emendantur. Published by Sebastian Cramoy, Paris, 1619 Pompa Introitus Honore ... Ferdinandi Austriaci,1641 Inscriptiones theatri pacis Hispano-batavicae, Antwerp, 1648 Inscriptiones honori serenissimi principis, Leopoldi Gulielmi, archiducis Austriae, Antwerp, 1648 Hymenaeus pacifer; sive theatrum pacis Hispano-gallicae. Published by Plantin Press, Antwerp, 1661 Monumentum sepulchrale, sive inscriptiones tumuli, Antwerp, 1666 Votum ad divam virginem aspricollinam sospitatricem, pro salute ac longaevitate serenissimorum principum Alberti et Isabellae
Studies A biography of Gevartius by Marcel Hoc was published under the title Le déclin de l'humanisme belge: étude sur Jean-Gaspard Gevaerts, philologue et poète (1593–1666) (Brussels, Paris and London, 1922).
See also Portrait of Cornelis van der Geest a painting mistakenly thought to be Gevartius
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