Bio

The brothers Melchior and Gabriel Tavernier were born in Brussels. Raised in the Reformed religion, the pair departed for France in 1575 to avoid persecution. Gabriel established himself as a merchant while Melchior (b. 1544) became an engraver and printer, eventually earning royal commissions producing maps and pamphlets.

Gabriel’s son, also name Melchior, works for his uncle in their shop on the Île de la Cité.