Christiaen van Couwenbergh
Encyclopedia
Christiaen van Couwenbergh, (8 July 1604 - 4 July 1667) was a Dutch Golden Age
painter.
. His father Gillis was a silversmith, engraver, and art dealer from Mechelen
. Gillis had moved to Delft before 1604 where he married Adriaantje Vosmaer, the sister of the flower painter Jacob Vosmaer
. Christiaen learned to paint from Johan van Nes, and then entered the Guild of St. Luke in Delft in 1627. He then travelled back and forth to Italy. After his return, he specialized in large historical allegories as wall decorations, often with life-sized nudes. He not only painted, but also produced drawings and designs for tapestries. His patrons were Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange
, among other royal admirers, for wall decorations at Huis ter Nieuwburg
, Huis ten Bosch
and Huis Honselaarsdijk
. Princess Christina of Sweden
purchased a series of tapestries designed by him.
He later moved to Cologne, where he died..
Dutch Golden Age
The Golden Age was a period in Dutch history, roughly spanning the 17th century, in which Dutch trade, science, military and art were among the most acclaimed in the world. The first half is characterised by the Eighty Years' War till 1648...
painter.
Biography
Couwenbergh was born in DelftDelft
Delft is a city and municipality in the province of South Holland , the Netherlands. It is located between Rotterdam and The Hague....
. His father Gillis was a silversmith, engraver, and art dealer from Mechelen
Mechelen
Mechelen Footnote: Mechelen became known in English as 'Mechlin' from which the adjective 'Mechlinian' is derived...
. Gillis had moved to Delft before 1604 where he married Adriaantje Vosmaer, the sister of the flower painter Jacob Vosmaer
Jacob Vosmaer
Jacob Vosmaer , was a Dutch Golden Age painter.-Biography:According to Houbraken he was born in Delft as a descendant of an old line of Vosmeers. He started his career as a landscape specialist, but switched to flowers, which brought him more success...
. Christiaen learned to paint from Johan van Nes, and then entered the Guild of St. Luke in Delft in 1627. He then travelled back and forth to Italy. After his return, he specialized in large historical allegories as wall decorations, often with life-sized nudes. He not only painted, but also produced drawings and designs for tapestries. His patrons were Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange
Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange
Frederick Henry, or Frederik Hendrik in Dutch , was the sovereign Prince of Orange and stadtholder of Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel from 1625 to 1647.-Early life:...
, among other royal admirers, for wall decorations at Huis ter Nieuwburg
Huis ter Nieuwburg
Huis ter Nieuwburg or Huis ter Nieuburch was a palace in Rijswijk, Holland, Dutch Republic. The symmetrical French Classicist building was probably designed by the French architect Jacques de la Vallée and was built between 1633 and 1636 for stadtholder Prince Frederick Henry.The palace with...
, Huis ten Bosch
Huis ten Bosch
Huis ten Bosch is one of the three official residences of the Dutch Royal Family, located in The Hague in the Netherlands. It has been home to Queen Beatrix since 1981. The other Royal palace in The Hague, Noordeinde Palace, is used for work-related purposes...
and Huis Honselaarsdijk
Huis Honselaarsdijk
Huis Honselaarsdijk was a palace in Honselersdijk, Holland, Dutch Republic. The palace was designed by the Dutch architects Bartholomeus van Bassen, Jacob van Campen and Pieter Post, and was built in the first half of the 17th century as a buitenplaats for stadtholder Frederick Henry, Prince of...
. Princess Christina of Sweden
Christina of Sweden
Christina , later adopted the name Christina Alexandra, was Queen regnant of Swedes, Goths and Vandals, Grand Princess of Finland, and Duchess of Ingria, Estonia, Livonia and Karelia, from 1633 to 1654. She was the only surviving legitimate child of King Gustav II Adolph and his wife Maria Eleonora...
purchased a series of tapestries designed by him.
He later moved to Cologne, where he died..