Jacob Matham was born in Haarlem in 1571. After his father’s death, Matham’s mother married Hendrick Goltzius, who soon adopted Matham and began training him in his workshop. Matham’s first signed engraving was printed in 1589, but it is believed that he began working on Goltzius’ prints a year prior. He worked primarily for his stepfather until 1600, when Goltzius decided to focus entirely on painting. Matham then took over the workshop, engraving and publishing engravings by other artists. Matham continued running the workshop after Goltzius’ death in 1617, training both his own sons as well as many other artists. He died in 1631, leaving his sons to continue the artistic family legacy.

Saint Augustine of Hippo seated to right, holding a volume labelled Sermones, besides a miter resting on two books and seen through an arch.