(b Antwerp, c. 1555–9; bur Antwerp, 11 March 1604). Engraver, brother of (1) Jan Wierix. He was probably taught by Jan. By 1579 he had engraved two plates for a series of four satirical prints, published by Willem van Haecht (M-H, nos 1663, 1666); the other two were by (2) Jerome Wierix (M-H, nos 1664–5). This is the earliest of many examples of collaboration between the two brothers. In 1587 Anton went into a short-lived partnership (of only three months) with Hans Liefrinck, and in 1590–91 he became a master. This coincided with his marriage (4 Oct 1590) to Catharina, daughter of the glass painter Gummarus van den Driessche; like Jerome’s, this marriage produced one son and four daughters. Anton II was also frequently in difficulties over debts, sometimes pawning his copperplates. His work includes a great number of religious scenes, some designed by himself, others after work by such artists as Marten de Vos and Crispin van den Broeck. After Anton’s early death, Jerome took over his copperplates and published several of Anton’s engravings under his own name. The work of his son, Anton Wierix III, has often been confused with that of the father.

Part of the Wierix family

• Wierix, Anton, II (c. 1555/9-1604)
  • Chile, §III, 1: Painting, graphic arts and sculpture: The colonial period, before 1818
  • Engraving, §II, 3(ii): Commercial growth, c 1500–c 1600
  • Wierix
  • groups and movements
    • Dürer Renaissance, §2: Regional developments
  • works
    • Belgium, §III, 3(i)(b): Painting, c 1550–c 1600
    • Goes, Hugo van der, §3: Stylistic development
    • Spranger, Bartholomäus, §2(iii): Work at the court of Rudolf II: Reproductive engravings
    • Vos, Marten de, §2(ii): Drawings