Claim profile
1600–1699

The 17th century

Whose working lives fell in the 17th century. Books are measured from 1800 and readers from 2015, so for this period we can say who lived then, not who was talked about then.

Lived then

The most notable people whose working lives fell in the 17th century, ranked where Wikipedia coverage and readership agree.

CountryAll🇫🇷 France🇩🇪 Germany🇬🇧 United Kingdom🇯🇵 Japan🇹🇷 Turkey🇳🇱 Netherlands🇪🇸 Spain🇮🇹 Italy🇸🇪 Sweden🇨🇳 China
FieldAllWritersPoliticiansHistorical FiguresArtistsAcademicsScientistsMusiciansReligious FiguresActorsModels
  1. 1CaravaggioCaravaggio1571–1610 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists22 decades
  2. 2RembrandtRembrandt1606–1669 · 🇳🇱 Netherlands · Artists22 decades
  3. 3Diego VelázquezDiego Velázquez1599–1660 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Artists20 decades
  4. 4Johannes VermeerJohannes Vermeer1632–1675 · 🇳🇱 Netherlands · Artists3 decades
  5. 5Peter Paul RubensPeter Paul Rubens1577–1640 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Artists22 decades
  6. 6Gian Lorenzo BerniniGian Lorenzo Bernini1598–1680 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists13 decades
  7. 7Artemisia GentileschiArtemisia Gentileschi1593–1653 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists18 decades
  8. 8Nicolas PoussinNicolas Poussin1594–1665 · 🇫🇷 France · Artists22 decades
  9. 9Bartolomé Esteban MurilloBartolomé Esteban Murillo1617–1682 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Artists20 decades
  10. 10Francisco de ZurbaránFrancisco de Zurbarán1598–1664 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Artists12 decades
  11. 11Anthony van DyckAnthony van Dyck1599–1641 · Artists4 decades
  12. 12Georges de La TourGeorges de La Tour1593–1652 · 🇫🇷 France · Artists9 decades
  13. 13Jusepe de RiberaJusepe de Ribera1591–1652 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Artists18 decades
  14. 14Guido ReniGuido Reni1575–1642 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists22 decades
  15. 15Frans HalsFrans Hals1582–1666 · Artists17 decades
  16. 16HALSHALS1582–1666 · 🇳🇱 Netherlands · Artists17 decades
  17. 17Claude LorrainClaude Lorrain1600–1682 · 🇫🇷 France · Artists18 decades
  18. 18Charles Le BrunCharles Le Brun1619–1690 · 🇫🇷 France · Artists22 decades
  19. 19GuercinoGuercino1591–1666 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists22 decades
  20. 20Jan Brueghel the ElderJan Brueghel the Elder1568–1625 · Artists0 decades
  21. 21Hyacinthe RigaudHyacinthe Rigaud1659–1743 · 🇫🇷 France · Artists19 decades
  22. 22Pietro da CortonaPietro da Cortona1596–1669 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists22 decades
  23. 23Philippe de ChampaignePhilippe de Champaigne1602–1674 · Artists22 decades
  24. 24ShitaoShitao1642–1707 · Artists6 decades
  25. 25Salvator RosaSalvator Rosa1615–1673 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists22 decades
  26. 26DomenichinoDomenichino1581–1641 · Artists22 decades
  27. 27Jan SteenJan Steen1626–1679 · 🇳🇱 Netherlands · Artists22 decades
  28. 28Luca GiordanoLuca Giordano1634–1705 · Artists22 decades
  29. 29Jacob van RuisdaelJacob van Ruisdael1628–1682 · 🇳🇱 Netherlands · Artists5 decades
  30. 30Jacques CallotJacques Callot1592–1635 · Artists21 decades
  31. 31Elisabetta SiraniElisabetta Sirani1638–1665 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists21 decades
  32. 32Andrea PozzoAndrea Pozzo1642–1709 · Artists21 decades
  33. 33Alonso CanoAlonso Cano1601–1667 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Artists22 decades
  34. 34Simon VouetSimon Vouet1590–1649 · 🇫🇷 France · Artists22 decades
  35. 35Jacob JordaensJacob Jordaens1593–1678 · Artists1 decades
  36. 36Johann Bernhard Fischer von ErlachJohann Bernhard Fischer von Erlach1656–1723 · Artists10 decades
  37. 37Rachel RuyschRachel Ruysch1664–1750 · Artists0 decades
  38. 38Judith LeysterJudith Leyster1609–1660 · 🇳🇱 Netherlands · Artists0 decades
  39. 39Gerard van HonthorstGerard van Honthorst1592–1656 · Artists0 decades
  40. 40Pierre Mignard IPierre Mignard I1612–1695 · 🇫🇷 France · Artists22 decades
  41. 41Carel FabritiusCarel Fabritius1622–1654 · Artists0 decades
  42. 42Pieter de HoochPieter de Hooch1629–1684 · 🇳🇱 Netherlands · Artists11 decades
  43. 43Pierre PugetPierre Puget1620–1694 · 🇫🇷 France · Artists22 decades
  44. 44Anna Maria van SchurmanAnna Maria van Schurman1607–1678 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Artists0 decades
  45. 45Mattia PretiMattia Preti1613–1699 · Artists22 decades
  46. 46Gerrit DouGerrit Dou1613–1675 · Artists0 decades
  47. 47Pieter ClaeszPieter Claesz1596–1660 · Artists0 decades
  48. 48David Teniers the YoungerDavid Teniers the Younger1610–1690 · Artists0 decades
  49. 49Jan Brueghel the YoungerJan Brueghel the Younger1601–1678 · Artists0 decades
  50. 50Gerard ter BorchGerard ter Borch1617–1681 · Artists0 decades
  51. 51Adriaen BrouwerAdriaen Brouwer1605–1638 · Artists0 decades
  52. 52Hendrick AvercampHendrick Avercamp1585–1634 · Artists0 decades
  53. 53Francesco SolimenaFrancesco Solimena1657–1747 · Artists19 decades
  54. 54Nicolas de LargillièreNicolas de Largillière1656–1746 · 🇫🇷 France · Artists3 decades
  55. 55Alessandro AlgardiAlessandro Algardi1595–1654 · Artists21 decades
  56. 56Juan Carreño de MirandaJuan Carreño de Miranda1614–1685 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Artists16 decades
  57. 57Godfrey KnellerGodfrey Kneller1646–1723 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Artists0 decades
  58. 58Bada ShanrenBada Shanren1626–1705 · Artists5 decades
  59. 59Paulus PotterPaulus Potter1625–1654 · Artists0 decades
  60. 60Carlo MarattaCarlo Maratta1625–1713 · Artists22 decades
  61. 61Fede GaliziaFede Galizia1578–1630 · Artists8 decades
  62. 62Francesco AlbaniFrancesco Albani1578–1660 · Artists22 decades
  63. 63Jan van GoyenJan van Goyen1596–1656 · Artists4 decades
  64. 64Gabriel MetsuGabriel Metsu1629–1667 · Artists0 decades
  65. 65Andreas SchlüterAndreas Schlüter1660–1714 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Artists18 decades
  66. 66Frans SnydersFrans Snyders1579–1657 · Artists0 decades
  67. 67Adam ElsheimerAdam Elsheimer1578–1610 · 🇩🇪 Germany · Artists13 decades
  68. 68Giovanni LanfrancoGiovanni Lanfranco1582–1647 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists22 decades
  69. 69André Charles BoulleAndré Charles Boulle1642–1732 · 🇫🇷 France · Artists5 decades
  70. 70Adriaen van OstadeAdriaen van Ostade1610–1685 · Artists1 decades
  71. 71Aelbert CuypAelbert Cuyp1620–1691 · Artists0 decades
  72. 72Giovanni BaglioneGiovanni Baglione1566–1643 · 🇮🇹 Italy · Artists14 decades
  73. 73Willem Claesz. HedaWillem Claesz. Heda1594–1680 · Artistsnot measured—
  74. 74Sebastiano RicciSebastiano Ricci1659–1734 · Artists22 decades
  75. 75Ferdinand BolFerdinand Bol1616–1680 · Artists2 decades
  76. 76Peter LelyPeter Lely1618–1680 · Artists22 decades
  77. 77Ulrika Eleonora of DenmarkUlrika Eleonora of Denmark1656–1693 · Artists0 decades
  78. 78Meindert HobbemaMeindert Hobbema1638–1709 · 🇳🇱 Netherlands · Artists0 decades
  79. 79Giovanni Battista GaulliGiovanni Battista Gaulli1639–1709 · Artists5 decades
  80. 80Josefa de ÓbidosJosefa de Óbidos1630–1684 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Artistsnot measured—
  81. 81Giuseppe CesariGiuseppe Cesari1568–1640 · Artists21 decades
  82. 82Clara PeetersClara Peeters1587–1657 · Artists0 decades
  83. 83Bernardo StrozziBernardo Strozzi1581–1644 · Artists22 decades
  84. 84Hendrick ter BrugghenHendrick ter Brugghen1588–1629 · Artists0 decades
  85. 85Ambrosius BosschaertAmbrosius Bosschaert1573–1621 · Artists0 decades
  86. 86Jan Davidsz. de HeemJan Davidsz. de Heem1606–1684 · Artistsnot measured—
  87. 87Pieter LastmanPieter Lastman1583–1633 · Artists0 decades
  88. 88Simon UshakovSimon Ushakov1626–1686 · Artists0 decades
  89. 89Nicolaes MaesNicolaes Maes1634–1693 · Artists0 decades
  90. 90Juan de Valdés LealJuan de Valdés Leal1622–1690 · 🇪🇸 Spain · Artists16 decades
  91. 91Catherine de Vivonne, marquise de RambouilletCatherine de Vivonne, marquise de Rambouillet1588–1665 · 🇫🇷 France · Artists0 decades
  92. 92Jan LievensJan Lievens1607–1674 · Artists0 decades
  93. 93Dirck van BaburenDirck van Baburen1595–1624 · Artists0 decades
  94. 94Willem van de Velde the YoungerWillem van de Velde the Younger1633–1707 · Artistsnot measured—
  95. 95Bartholomeus van der HelstBartholomeus van der Helst1613–1670 · Artists0 decades
  96. 96Hishikawa MoronobuHishikawa Moronobu1618–1694 · 🇯🇵 Japan · Artists0 decades
  97. 97Govert FlinckGovert Flinck1615–1660 · Artists0 decades
  98. 98Carlo DolciCarlo Dolci1616–1686 · Artists13 decades
  99. 99William VI, Landgrave of Hesse-KasselWilliam VI, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel1629–1663 · Artists1 decades
  100. 100Gerard de LairesseGerard de Lairesse1641–1711 · Artists1 decades

How this is measured

  • Placing people in time. Each person belongs to the century in which they were most active — around age 35, and never after their death.
  • Who ranks highest. Within a century, people are ranked where two independent signals agree: how many of the world’s Wikipedia language editions cover them, and how many people actually read about them. Article counts alone can be lifted by a person’s own circle; readers cannot.
  • Fame in print. The curves count how often a name appears in Google Books from 1800 to 2019, as a share of all the words printed each year, in the person’s own language wherever that corpus exists. Those decades are over, so each measurement is made once and kept.
  • What is left out. A lifetime is measured only from 1820, when there is enough print to judge; the five years after a death are skipped as obituaries; and a name shared with someone equally notable is credited to neither.