Maria Theresia Borrekens

Philippe Joseph Tassaert, Portrait of Maria Theresia Borrekens, oil on canvas, Plantin-Moretus Museum, commissioned by her husband Franciscus Joannes Moretus in 1762. Maria Theresia Borrekens (1728–1797), was a printer and manager of Officina Plantiniana (also known as Plantin Press), a leading publisher in Antwerp, from 1768 to 1797.

Biography Maria Theresia Josepha Borrekens was born on 27 July 1728 as the daughter of Engelbert Maria Josef Borrekens (ca. 1693–26 December 1748), a knight, (Both of her parents were buried at the Cathedral of Antwerp.)

After her husband died, Borrekens took over the management of the printing house. She became a formidable leader of the firm, but due to external forces she was not able to overcome the financial downturn that beset the business. At the time of her husband's death, there were five sons and a one-year-old daughter. Daughter Maria-Mechtildis-Jozefa was born on 7 March 1769, following her father's death. Three of their sons ran Officiana Plantiniana: Jacob Paul Moretus (died 1808), Jozef Moretus (died 1814), and Lodewijk-Frans Moretus (died 1820). After Borrekens' death, Jacob Paul ran the print shop until his death in 1808. Jozef then ran the business until his death, followed by Lodewijk-Frans. Although metal printing presses were in vogue in the 18th century, however, the Moretus family did not modernize. As a result, their business fell of and it became a "third-rate concern".