 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
click on images for larger version (you will be directed the ARC- The Art Renewal Center)
for more Dutch artists - click here
born July 15, 1606, Leiden, Netherlands
died October 4, 1669, Amsterdam
Master painter of light, Rembrandt brought realism to new heights. Early in his career and for some time, Rembrandt painted mainly portraits. The core of Rembrandt's oeuvre, however, consists of biblical and—to a much lesser extent—historical, mythological, and allegorical “history pieces,” According to the myth that evolved after his death, Rembrandt died poor and misunderstood.*
baptized October 31, 1632, Delft, the Netherlands
buried December 16, 1675, Delft
Although only about 36 of his paintings survive, these rare works are among the greatest treasures in the world's finest museums. He painted mainly interior genre subjects, depicting members of aristocratic and upper-middle-class society. About half of these paintings show solitary figures of women absorbed in some ordinary, everyday activity. His work was not widely appreciated in his own time.*
born 1581/85, Antwerp, Spanish Netherlands
died Sept. 1, 1666, Haarlem, Neth.
He spent his life in Haarlem. His group portraits of members of local guilds and military societies, notably the monumental Banquet of Officers of the Civic Guard of St. George (1616), were painted with a technique close to Impressionism in its looseness, unique in Dutch art at the time. He introduced a jovial spirit that revolutionized portraiture and set him apart from his contemporaries. His work greatly influenced Édouard Manet, Vincent van Gogh,to name a few.*
Jan Steen
courtesy of Art Renewal Center.
born c. 1626, Leiden, Neth.
died Feb. 3, 1679, Leiden
Dutch painter.
A brewer's son, he was enrolled at the University of Leiden in 1646 and in 1648 became a founding member of the Leiden painters' guild. One of the greatest Dutch genre painters, he is known for his humour and ability to capture subtle facial expressions, especially of children. His figures, which became larger and more individually characterized in his later works, were often shown playing cards or skittles, or carousing in inns and taverns. His paintings show great technical skill, particularly with colour. His late paintings, which anticipated the Rococo style, became increasingly elegant and somewhat less energetic.*
orig. Jeroen van Aken or Jerome van Aken
born c. 1450s, 's Hertogenbosch, Brabant
died Aug. 9, 1516, 's Hertogenbosch
his name comes from his native town of 's Hertogenbosch
His paintings blend fantasy and reality in apocalyptic scenes of chaos with half-human, half-animal creatures, devils, and demons interacting with human figures in imaginary architecture and landscapes. Among his best-known works is The Garden of Earthly Delights.*
born c. 1525, probably Breda, duchy of Brabant
died Sept. 5/9, 1569, Brussels
Greatest Netherlandish painter of the 16th century.
known for his paintings of Netherlandish proverbs, seasonal landscapes, and realistic views of peasant life and folklore.
His sons, Peter Brueghel the Younger and Jan, the Elder Brueghel (both of whom restored to the name the h their father had abandoned), and later imitators carried his style into the 18th century.*
born April 7, 1613, Leiden, Neth.
died Feb. 9, 1675, Leiden
Dutch painter.
From 1628 to 1631 he studied with Rembrandt, adopting his subject matter, careful draftsmanship, and dramatic treatment of light and shadow.When Rembrandt left Leiden, Dou developed his own style, painting smooth, meticulously detailed, small-scale domestic interiors and portraits. He used the “frame within a frame” device of surrounding his figures by a window or curtain and excelled at scenes lit by candlelight. With Jan Steen he was among the founders of the Guild of St. Luke at Leiden (1648).*
*All information in this section gathered from: Encyclopedia Britannica Online ( http://www.britannica.com/ ), Wikipedia, and "The Dutch Republic" by Jonathen Isreal.
Images from ARC International - The Art Renewal Center ( http://www.artrenewal.org/ )