Abraham Bloemaert
Encyclopedia
Abraham Bloemaert was a Dutch
painter
and printmaker in etching
and engraving
. He was one of the "Haarlem Mannerists
" from about 1585, but in the new century altered his style to fit new Baroque
trends. He mostly painted history subjects
and some landscapes.
Bloemaert was born in Gorinchem
, the son of the architect Cornelis Bloemaert I, who moved his family to Utrecht in 1575, where Abraham was first a pupil of Gerrit Splinter (pupil of Frans Floris
) and of Joos de Beer
. From the age of 15 or 16, he then spent three years in Paris
from 1581–1583, studying six weeks under a Jehan Bassot (possibly Jean Cousin the Younger) and then under a Maistre Herry. While in the School of Fontainebleau
he received further training from his fellow countryman Hieronymus Francken. He returned to Utrecht in 1583, just before the French Wars of Religion
began, which destroyed much of the work at the Chateau of Fontainebleau. When his father was appointed city architect (Stads-bouwmeester) in Amsterdam
1591 he accompanied him there, and on his father's death in 1593 returned finally to Utrecht, where he set up a workshop and became dean ("deken") of the "zadelaarsgilde" (traditional name of the Utrecht Guild of St. Luke from 1367 onwards) in 1594. In 1611, along with Paulus Moreelse
, he was one of the founders of a new Utrecht painters' guild, called "St. Lucas-gilde", and became its deken in 1618. Many of Bloemaert paintings were commissioned by Utrecht's clandestine Catholic churches. He died in Utrecht.
He excelled more as a colourist than as a draughtsman, was extremely productive, and painted and etched historical and allegorical pictures, landscapes, still-life, animal pictures and flower pieces. In the first decade of the seventeenth-century, Bloemaert began formulating his landscape paintings to include pictoresque ruined cottagges and other pastoral elements. In these works, the religious or mythological figures play a subordinate role. Country life was to remain Bloemaert's favourite subject, which he depicted with increasing naturalism. He drew motifs such as peasant cottages, dovecotes and trees from life and then on his return to the studio, worked them up into complex imaginary scenes.
Among his many pupils are his four sons, Hendrick
, Frederick, Cornelis
, and Adriaan
(all of whom achieved considerable reputation as painters or engravers). The RKD also lists Jan van Bijlert
, the two Boths
, the two Honthorsts, Leonaert Bramer
, Bartholomeus Breenbergh
, Hendrick ter Brugghen
, Jacob Gerritsz Cuyp
, Willem van Drielenburg, Wybrand de Geest
, Nicolaus Knüpfer, Cornelis van Poelenburch, Henrik Schook, Matthias Stom
, Herman van Swanevelt
, Dirck Voorst, and Jan Weenix
.
, Michigan; Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco
; Hermitage Museum
, Saint Petersburg; Indianapolis Museum of Art
, Indiana; J. Paul Getty Museum
, Los Angeles; Mauritshuis
Royal Picture Gallery, The Hague; Metropolitan Museum of Art
, New York City; Minneapolis Institute of Arts
, Minnesota; Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
; National Gallery of Canada
, Ottawa; Rijksmuseum
, Amsterdam; Royal Academy of Arts, London; University of Rochester
, New York; Bob Jones University
, Greenville, South Carolina; Centraal Museum
, Utrecht, Netherlands; Cleveland Museum of Art
, Ohio; Courtauld Institute of Art
, London; Harvard University Art Museums
, Massachusetts; Kunsthalle zu Kiel, Germany; amongst others.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
painter
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
and printmaker in etching
Etching
Etching is the process of using strong acid or mordant to cut into the unprotected parts of a metal surface to create a design in intaglio in the metal...
and engraving
Engraving
Engraving is the practice of incising a design on to a hard, usually flat surface, by cutting grooves into it. The result may be a decorated object in itself, as when silver, gold, steel, or glass are engraved, or may provide an intaglio printing plate, of copper or another metal, for printing...
. He was one of the "Haarlem Mannerists
Northern Mannerism
Northern Mannerism is the term in European art history for the versions of Mannerism practiced in the visual arts north of the Alps in the 16th and early 17th century...
" from about 1585, but in the new century altered his style to fit new Baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
trends. He mostly painted history subjects
History painting
History painting is a genre in painting defined by subject matter rather than an artistic style, depicting a moment in a narrative story, rather than a static subject such as a portrait...
and some landscapes.
Bloemaert was born in Gorinchem
Gorinchem
Gorinchem , also called Gorkum , is a city and municipality in the western Netherlands, in the province of South Holland. The municipality covers an area of 21.99 km² of which 3.03 km² is water...
, the son of the architect Cornelis Bloemaert I, who moved his family to Utrecht in 1575, where Abraham was first a pupil of Gerrit Splinter (pupil of Frans Floris
Frans Floris
Frans Floris, or more correctly Frans de Vriendt, called Floris was a Flemish painter. He was a member of a large family trained to the study of art in Flanders.-Biography:...
) and of Joos de Beer
Joos de Beer
Joos de Beer was an Early Netherlandish painter from Utrecht.-Biography:According to Karel van Mander, he was a pupil of Frans Floris in Antwerp, who later returned to his native Utrecht and became the teacher of Abraham Bloemaert and Joachim Wtewael.Together with Anthonie Blocklandt van...
. From the age of 15 or 16, he then spent three years in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
from 1581–1583, studying six weeks under a Jehan Bassot (possibly Jean Cousin the Younger) and then under a Maistre Herry. While in the School of Fontainebleau
School of Fontainebleau
The Ecole de Fontainebleau refers to two periods of artistic production in France during the late Renaissance centered around the royal Château de Fontainebleau, that were crucial in forming the French version of Northern Mannerism....
he received further training from his fellow countryman Hieronymus Francken. He returned to Utrecht in 1583, just before the French Wars of Religion
French Wars of Religion
The French Wars of Religion is the name given to a period of civil infighting and military operations, primarily fought between French Catholics and Protestants . The conflict involved the factional disputes between the aristocratic houses of France, such as the House of Bourbon and House of Guise...
began, which destroyed much of the work at the Chateau of Fontainebleau. When his father was appointed city architect (Stads-bouwmeester) in Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
1591 he accompanied him there, and on his father's death in 1593 returned finally to Utrecht, where he set up a workshop and became dean ("deken") of the "zadelaarsgilde" (traditional name of the Utrecht Guild of St. Luke from 1367 onwards) in 1594. In 1611, along with Paulus Moreelse
Paulus Moreelse
Paulus Moreelse was a Dutch painter, mainly of portraits.-Life:Moreelse was born and died in Utrecht. He was a pupil of the Delft portrait painter Michiel Jansz. van Mierevelt, who had himself been a pupil of Anthonie van Blocklandt. He took a study-trip to Italy, where he received many portrait...
, he was one of the founders of a new Utrecht painters' guild, called "St. Lucas-gilde", and became its deken in 1618. Many of Bloemaert paintings were commissioned by Utrecht's clandestine Catholic churches. He died in Utrecht.
He excelled more as a colourist than as a draughtsman, was extremely productive, and painted and etched historical and allegorical pictures, landscapes, still-life, animal pictures and flower pieces. In the first decade of the seventeenth-century, Bloemaert began formulating his landscape paintings to include pictoresque ruined cottagges and other pastoral elements. In these works, the religious or mythological figures play a subordinate role. Country life was to remain Bloemaert's favourite subject, which he depicted with increasing naturalism. He drew motifs such as peasant cottages, dovecotes and trees from life and then on his return to the studio, worked them up into complex imaginary scenes.
Among his many pupils are his four sons, Hendrick
Hendrick Bloemaert
-Biography:Hendrick was the oldest son of Abraham Bloemaert. His brothers Cornelis and Adriaen were also painters. In 1626 he was registered in Rome, but by 1631 he was back in Utrecht, where he registered in the Utrecht Guild of St...
, Frederick, Cornelis
Cornelis Bloemaert
Cornelis Bloemaert II , was a Dutch Golden Age painter and engraver.-Biography:Bloemaert was born at Utrecht. He studied with his father, Abraham Bloemaert, his brothers Hendrick and Adriaan, and his father's pupil, Gerard van Honthorst...
, and Adriaan
Adriaan Bloemaert
Adriaan Bloemaert, was the fourth son of Abraham Bloemaert, and received his first instruction from his father. He was sent to Italy, where he studied some time. He afterwards visited Vienna, where he met with employment, and ultimately settled at Salzburg, and was killed in a duel in 1668. He...
(all of whom achieved considerable reputation as painters or engravers). The RKD also lists Jan van Bijlert
Jan van Bijlert
Jan Hermansz van Bijlert was a Dutch portrait painter in the style of Caravaggio.-Biography:Jan van Bijlert was born at Utrecht, the son of a the stained glass worker Herman Beernts van Bijlert, and became a student of Abraham Bloemaert. He moved to Amsterdam, where he married in 1625.. He...
, the two Boths
Andries Both
Andries Both , was a Dutch Golden Age genre painter, one of the bamboccianti, and brother of Jan Dirksz Both.Both was born in Utrecht, the son of a glass painter. He studied under Abraham Bloemaert. According to Joachim von Sandrart Andries and his brother Jan cooperated on the paintings, with Jan...
, the two Honthorsts, Leonaert Bramer
Leonaert Bramer
Leonaert/Leonard Bramer alias Nestelghat was a Dutch painter, best known for probably being one of the teachers of Johannes Vermeer, although there is no similarity between their work. Bramer's dark and exotic style is unlike Vermeer's style...
, Bartholomeus Breenbergh
Bartholomeus Breenbergh
Bartholomeus Breenbergh was a Dutch Golden Age painter of Italianate landscapes.-Biography:Little is known of his early life. In his famous three volume Schouburg, Arnold Houbraken mentioned him in his first volume with an entreaty to readers to write him with more news of Breenberg's biography...
, Hendrick ter Brugghen
Hendrick ter Brugghen
Hendrick Jansz ter Brugghen was a Dutch painter, and a leading member of the Dutch followers of Caravaggio — the so-called Dutch Caravaggisti.- Biography :...
, Jacob Gerritsz Cuyp
Jacob Gerritsz Cuyp
Jacob Gerritszoon Cuyp was a portrait and landscape painter. He was born and died in Dordrecht, and was the half-brother of Benjamin Gerritsz Cuyp and the father of the much more famous Aelbert Cuyp....
, Willem van Drielenburg, Wybrand de Geest
Wybrand de Geest
Wybrand Simonsz. de Geest was a Dutch Golden Age portrait painter from Friesland.-Biography:...
, Nicolaus Knüpfer, Cornelis van Poelenburch, Henrik Schook, Matthias Stom
Matthias Stom
Matthias Stom or Matthias Stomer was a Dutch golden age painter, considered being one of the masters of the Utrecht Caravaggism. Besides Stom and Stomer he has been referred to as Matthias Stohom / Stomma, Matheo Schem and Matteo Tomar...
, Herman van Swanevelt
Herman van Swanevelt
Herman van Swanevelt was a Dutch painter and etcher from the Baroque era.-Life:Herman was born in Woerden to a family of thriving artisans whose ancestors included the famous painter Lucas van Leyden. The identity of Swanevelt’s teacher remains a mystery...
, Dirck Voorst, and Jan Weenix
Jan Weenix
Jan Weenix or Joannis Wenix was a Dutch painter. He was trained by his father, Jan Baptist Weenix, together with his cousin Melchior d'Hondecoeter. Like his father, he devoted himself to a variety of subjects, but his fame is chiefly due to his paintings of dead game and of hunting scenes...
.
Public collections
Bloemaert is represented in the following collections: Detroit Institute of ArtsDetroit Institute of Arts
The Detroit Institute of Arts is a renowned art museum in the city of Detroit. In 2003, the DIA ranked as the second largest municipally owned museum in the United States, with an art collection valued at more than one billion dollars...
, Michigan; Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco
Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco
The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, comprising the M. H. de Young Memorial Museum in Golden Gate Park and the California Palace of the Legion of Honor in Lincoln Park, is the largest public arts institution in the city of San Francisco and one of the largest art museums in California.-External...
; Hermitage Museum
Hermitage Museum
The State Hermitage is a museum of art and culture in Saint Petersburg, Russia. One of the largest and oldest museums of the world, it was founded in 1764 by Catherine the Great and has been opened to the public since 1852. Its collections, of which only a small part is on permanent display,...
, Saint Petersburg; Indianapolis Museum of Art
Indianapolis Museum of Art
The Indianapolis Museum of Art is an encyclopedic art museum located in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. The museum, which underwent a $74 million expansion in 2005, is located on a campus on the near northwest area outside downtown Indianapolis, northwest of Crown Hill Cemetery.The...
, Indiana; J. Paul Getty Museum
J. Paul Getty Museum
The J. Paul Getty Museum, a program of the J. Paul Getty Trust, is an art museum. It has two locations, one at the Getty Center in Los Angeles, California, and one at the Getty Villa in Pacific Palisades, Los Angeles, California...
, Los Angeles; Mauritshuis
Mauritshuis
The Royal Picture Gallery Mauritshuis is an art museum in The Hague, the Netherlands. Previously the residence of count John Maurice of Nassau, it now has a large art collection, including paintings by Dutch painters such as Johannes Vermeer, Rembrandt van Rijn, Jan Steen, Paulus Potter and Frans...
Royal Picture Gallery, The Hague; Metropolitan Museum of Art
Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Metropolitan Museum of Art is a renowned art museum in New York City. Its permanent collection contains more than two million works, divided into nineteen curatorial departments. The main building, located on the eastern edge of Central Park along Manhattan's Museum Mile, is one of the...
, New York City; Minneapolis Institute of Arts
Minneapolis Institute of Arts
The Minneapolis Institute of Arts is a fine art museum located in the Whittier neighborhood of Minneapolis, Minnesota, on a campus that covers nearly 8 acres , formerly Morrison Park...
, Minnesota; Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Massachusetts, is one of the largest museums in the United States, attracting over one million visitors a year. It contains over 450,000 works of art, making it one of the most comprehensive collections in the Americas...
; National Gallery of Canada
National Gallery of Canada
The National Gallery of Canada , located in the capital city Ottawa, Ontario, is one of Canada's premier art galleries.The Gallery is now housed in a glass and granite building on Sussex Drive with a notable view of the Canadian Parliament buildings on Parliament Hill. The acclaimed structure was...
, Ottawa; Rijksmuseum
Rijksmuseum
The Rijksmuseum Amsterdam or simply Rijksmuseum is a Dutch national museum in Amsterdam, located on the Museumplein. The museum is dedicated to arts, crafts, and history. It has a large collection of paintings from the Dutch Golden Age and a substantial collection of Asian art...
, Amsterdam; Royal Academy of Arts, London; University of Rochester
University of Rochester
The University of Rochester is a private, nonsectarian, research university in Rochester, New York, United States. The university grants undergraduate and graduate degrees, including doctoral and professional degrees. The university has six schools and various interdisciplinary programs.The...
, New York; Bob Jones University
Bob Jones University
Bob Jones University is a private, for-profit, non-denominational Protestant university in Greenville, South Carolina.The university was founded in 1927 by Bob Jones, Sr. , an evangelist and contemporary of Billy Sunday...
, Greenville, South Carolina; Centraal Museum
Centraal Museum
The Centraal Museum is a museum in Utrecht, The Netherlands. The museum was founded in 1838. Initially, the collection - exhibited on the top floor of the Utrecht townhall - was limited to art related to the city of Utrecht...
, Utrecht, Netherlands; Cleveland Museum of Art
Cleveland Museum of Art
The Cleveland Museum of Art is an art museum situated in the Wade Park District, in the University Circle neighborhood on Cleveland's east side. Internationally renowned for its substantial holdings of Asian and Egyptian art, the museum houses a diverse permanent collection of more than 43,000...
, Ohio; Courtauld Institute of Art
Courtauld Institute of Art
The Courtauld Institute of Art is a self-governing college of the University of London specialising in the study of the history of art. The Courtauld is one of the premier centres for the teaching of art history in the world; it was the only History of Art department in the UK to be awarded a top...
, London; Harvard University Art Museums
Harvard University Art Museums
The Harvard Art Museums, part of Harvard University, comprise three museums and four research centers .The Harvard Art Museums...
, Massachusetts; Kunsthalle zu Kiel, Germany; amongst others.
Rediscoveries
- Lot and his daughters (120 x 220 cm), oil on canvas (rediscovered in 2006 by Prof. Alain Béjard & Dimitri Joannidès, Alicem institute, Luxemburg)