Gerard Brandt
Encyclopedia
Gerard Brandt was a Dutch preacher
, playwright, poet, church historian, biographer and naval historian. A well-known writer in his own time, his works include a Life of Michiel de Ruyter
(1687, Het Leven en bedryf van den Heere Michiel de Ruiter - an important source on the admiral's life) and a Historie der vermaerde zee- en koopstadt Enkhuisen
(1666, Geschiedenis van Enkhuizen - still an important source for that city's early history).
, later put on in the Amsterdamse Schouwburg, of which his father was regent
. When he later became a well-known preacher and serious scholar, he did not want his youthful works and errors to be remembered. He was best known for his "grafrede" on Pieter Cornelisz. Hooft in 1647, a translation of Jacques Du Perron's eulogy of Ronsard
which he had performed by the actor Van Germez. He also continued his own work, in which he was accused of plagiarism in Aen den onbeschaemden letter-dief, a speech in which he called Hooft "the only poet Amstel has produced", a clear attack on Vondel
.
. He married Suzanne van Baerle and all three of their sons later became preachers. Brandt worked from 1660 to 1667 in Hoorn
, before moving to Amsterdam
. In 1676 Michiel de Ruyter had died and in 1681 his son Engel de Ruyter
commissioned a biography of him from Brandt for 400 guilder. Brandt received information for it from de Ruyter's widow and children, but it was left incomplete on Brandt's death in 1685 - Brandt's sons Caspar and Johannes completed it, publishing it as a 1,063 page volume in 1687.
earned him a place in the list of 1000 key texts of Dutch Literature
in the DBNL
.
quotes Gerard Brand's biography, relating the anecdote where Willem van de Velde the Elder
asked Admiral de Ruyter permission to have a galley row him around for a good view of the proceedings on the evening of the sea battle in 1666, an event known as the Four Days Battle
. He wasn't the only artist to paint the scenes of this battle:
This act later was the reason that van Velde gained his marine commission in London
and shows how famous Admiral de Ruyter was in the blind faith that the artists (and the Dutch in general) had in him. Brandt's work became a standard text for students for centuries.
Preacher
Preacher is a term for someone who preaches sermons or gives homilies. A preacher is distinct from a theologian by focusing on the communication rather than the development of doctrine. Others see preaching and theology as being intertwined...
, playwright, poet, church historian, biographer and naval historian. A well-known writer in his own time, his works include a Life of Michiel de Ruyter
Michiel de Ruyter
Michiel Adriaenszoon de Ruyter is the most famous and one of the most skilled admirals in Dutch history. De Ruyter is most famous for his role in the Anglo-Dutch Wars of the 17th century. He fought the English and French and scored several major victories against them, the best known probably...
(1687, Het Leven en bedryf van den Heere Michiel de Ruiter - an important source on the admiral's life) and a Historie der vermaerde zee- en koopstadt Enkhuisen
Enkhuizen
Enkhuizen is a municipality and a town in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland and the region of West-Frisia.Enkhuizen was one of the harbour-towns of the VOC, just like Hoorn and Amsterdam, from where overseas trade with the East Indies was conducted. It received city rights in 1355...
(1666, Geschiedenis van Enkhuizen - still an important source for that city's early history).
Life
Brandt was the son of the clockmaker Gerard Brandt and his wife Neeltje Jeroens. Aged 17 Gerard junior wrote the play De Veinzende TorquatusTorquatus
Torquatus is a Latin word meaning "adorned with a neck chain or collar" and may refer to:*People:**Titus Manlius Torquatus**Lucius Manlius Torquatus**Titus Manlius Torquatus **Silanus***Marcus Junius Silanus Torquatus...
, later put on in the Amsterdamse Schouwburg, of which his father was regent
Regenten
In the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, the regenten were the rulers of the Dutch Republic, the leaders of the Dutch cities or the heads of organisations . Though not formally a hereditary "class", they were de facto "patricians", comparable to that ancient Roman class...
. When he later became a well-known preacher and serious scholar, he did not want his youthful works and errors to be remembered. He was best known for his "grafrede" on Pieter Cornelisz. Hooft in 1647, a translation of Jacques Du Perron's eulogy of Ronsard
Pierre de Ronsard
Pierre de Ronsard was a French poet and "prince of poets" .-Early life:...
which he had performed by the actor Van Germez. He also continued his own work, in which he was accused of plagiarism in Aen den onbeschaemden letter-dief, a speech in which he called Hooft "the only poet Amstel has produced", a clear attack on Vondel
Joost van den Vondel
Joost van den Vondel was a Dutch writer and playwright. He is considered the most prominent Dutch poet and playwright of the 17th century. His plays are the ones from that period that are still most frequently performed, and his epic Joannes de Boetgezant , on the life of John the Baptist, has...
.
Dutch historian and biographer
Under the influence of professor Casparus Barlaeus, and Barlaeus's daughter in particular, Brandt gave up studying watchmaking and in 1652 passed his exam, becoming a Remonstrant preacher in NieuwkoopNieuwkoop
Nieuwkoop is a town and municipality in the western Netherlands, in the province of South Holland. The municipality was enlarged on January 1, 2007, through the amalgamation of Liemeer and Ter Aar....
. He married Suzanne van Baerle and all three of their sons later became preachers. Brandt worked from 1660 to 1667 in Hoorn
Hoorn
-Cities :* Purmerend * Enkhuizen * Alkmaar * Amsterdam * Lelystad * Den Helder * Leeuwarden -Towns :* Edam...
, before moving to 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...
. In 1676 Michiel de Ruyter had died and in 1681 his son Engel de Ruyter
Engel de Ruyter
Engel Michielszoon de Ruyter was a Dutch vice-admiral.-Life:He was the son of lieutenant admiral Michiel de Ruyter and his second wife Cornelia Engels. He began his naval service on board his father's ship on his expeditions in 1664 and 1665...
commissioned a biography of him from Brandt for 400 guilder. Brandt received information for it from de Ruyter's widow and children, but it was left incomplete on Brandt's death in 1685 - Brandt's sons Caspar and Johannes completed it, publishing it as a 1,063 page volume in 1687.
Life of Vondel
His exhaustive compilation of the works and biography of the Dutch Poet Joost van den VondelJoost van den Vondel
Joost van den Vondel was a Dutch writer and playwright. He is considered the most prominent Dutch poet and playwright of the 17th century. His plays are the ones from that period that are still most frequently performed, and his epic Joannes de Boetgezant , on the life of John the Baptist, has...
earned him a place in the list of 1000 key texts of Dutch Literature
Dutch literature
Dutch literature comprises all writings of literary merit written through the ages in the Dutch language, a language which currently has around 23 million native speakers...
in the DBNL
DBNL
DBNL can refer to*Drebrin-like, a human gene.*Digital library for Dutch literature , abbreviated as dbnl, a website with the complete texts of a large number of Dutch books and other literature in Dutch language....
.
Life of Admiral Michiel de Ruyter
In his work on the biographies of artists, Arnold HoubrakenArnold Houbraken
Arnold Houbraken was a Dutch painter and writer from Dordrecht, now remembered mainly as a biographer of artists from the Dutch Golden Age. He had ten children. His son Jacobus Houbraken was an engraver of portraits and book illustrations, including books by his father...
quotes Gerard Brand's biography, relating the anecdote where Willem van de Velde the Elder
Willem van de Velde the Elder
Willem van de Velde the Elder was a Dutch Golden Age seascape painter.-Biographical Outline:Willem van de Velde, known as the Elder, a marine draughtsman and painter, was born in Leiden, the son of a Flemish skipper, Willem Willemsz. van de Velde, and is commonly said to have been bred to the sea...
asked Admiral de Ruyter permission to have a galley row him around for a good view of the proceedings on the evening of the sea battle in 1666, an event known as the Four Days Battle
Four Days Battle
The Four Days Battle was a naval battle of the Second Anglo–Dutch War. Fought from 1 June to 4 June 1666 in the Julian or Old Style calendar then used in England off the Flemish and English coast, it remains one of the longest naval engagements in history.In June 1665 the English had soundly...
. He wasn't the only artist to paint the scenes of this battle:
This act later was the reason that van Velde gained his marine commission in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and shows how famous Admiral de Ruyter was in the blind faith that the artists (and the Dutch in general) had in him. Brandt's work became a standard text for students for centuries.
Works
- Stichtelijke Gedichten, 1664
- Historie van de vermaerde zee- en koopstadt Enkhuisen , Amsterdam 1666.
- Leven van Hooft, 1677
- Historie der ReformatieProtestant ReformationThe Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
(History of the Reformation - available on Wikisource), 1668-74. An attack on Willem BaudartiusWillem BaudartiusWillem Baudaert or Baudartius , born Willem Baudart, was a Dutch theologian...
, it was itself attacked, especially by Hendrik Ruyl of Rulaeus, Amsterdam, and Brandt had to write an apologia to answer the allegations in 1675 - Leven van Vondel, 1682
- Het leven en het bedrijf van den Heere Michiel de Ruyter. Amsterdam 1687 ISBN 90-6103-401-9 (facsimileFacsimileA facsimile is a copy or reproduction of an old book, manuscript, map, art print, or other item of historical value that is as true to the original source as possible. It differs from other forms of reproduction by attempting to replicate the source as accurately as possible in terms of scale,...
-edition)