Haarlem Guild of St. Luke
Encyclopedia
The Haarlem Guild of Saint Luke was first a Christian, and later a city Guild
for a large number of trades falling under the patron saints Luke the Evangelist
and Saint Eligius
.
, there was probably a painter's guild in Haarlem
, but all records of such an organization have been lost. If one existed, it would probably have been associated with the Janskerk (Haarlem)
, where Geertgen was active as a respected painter. The earliest mention of the Haarlem Guild of St. Luke is from 1496, when the heirs of Joost Huge Alboutsdr, who had been the former owner of the location of the altar in the Sint-Bavokerk
, ceded all altar rights which up to then had been for the Ascension of the Virgin, to the Guild of St. Luke and St. Eligius. This is possibly also the year that the Guild switched its altar from the Janskerk to the Bavokerk. The guild was for painters and gold- and silversmiths, with St. Luke being the patron saint of the painters, and St. Eligius being the patron saint for the smiths.
, whereupon the guild altar found temporary housing in the Vrouwenbroerskerk, since the Bavokerk had become protestant and all the guilds had left the church. The Vrouwenbroerskerk was the church of the Carmelites
, whose monastery is gone, but whose archives survive today. Of the original complex, only the entrance gate still stands on the Grote Houtstraat. These archives recorded that a kessophel (chasuble
) was donated to this altar in 1575 by Elisabeth van Dorp. After Haarlem lost the Siege of Haarlem
in 1573, it became a Catholic enclave that officially fell under the rule of Philip II of Spain
. It wasn't until 1577 that the local bishop Godfried van Mierlo
set his seal to the "Satisfactie van Haarlem
" wherein he promised to swear allegiance to Willem the Silent rather than Philip II, on the condition that the Catholics would keep the same rights as Protestants. Though Haarlem, like Amsterdam with its "Alteratie
", reverted the Catholic rights of this "Satisfactie" a year later, it was this special Catholic-friendly reputation that attracted many from the south that added to the city's wealth in its golden age.
In 1576, a decision was made on September 28 to make a devotional piece for St. Eligius, since only St. Luke was now represented. This referred to the painting by Martin van Heemskerck, which does not display St. Eligius, but shows St. Luke painting the Virgin. This painting was quite large, and though it shows a pottery (faience
) baker as St. Luke and sculptures and woodcarvings abound in it, there is no sign of any smith work in it. The signed paper attached at the bottom of the painting is recorded by Karel van Mander and states that Heemskerck painted it for his colleagues in the guild. Heemskerk had painted this before he traveled to Italy, and when he came back he became charter master of the guild from 1550-1552. Apparently the smiths were dissatisfied with their representation in the running of the guild, and this caused a guild dispute, because the goldsmiths broke away into their own guild in 1576, only to return in the charter of 1590 again.
in 1585, many families fled north and since Antwerp was a major center for painting, the Haarlem market was flooded with professional painters who competed with Haarlem's own craftsmen. To protect the market, a new charter was issued in 1590. That this was necessary is evidenced by the fact that new charters were issued soon after the beeldenstorm in most Dutch cities that had converted to Protestantism and were embroiled in the Eighty years war.
tried to get it back, but to no avail. In 1641 they tried once again to get the relic back, but it seems to have disappeared.
, Outgert Ariss Akersloot, Willem Claesz Heda, Salomon de Bray, Cornelis Cornelisz, Cornelis Claesz van Wieringen
, Floris van Dyck, and Isaak Halinck.
Unfortunately the Haarlem St Lucasgilde archives fell into disarray between the period that the guilds were dissolved in Haarlem (1795) and 1860. Through the years historians have attempted to make lists of archival records, using the personal archives of the de Bray family (most notably from Salomon de Bray in the 1630s) and the van der Vinne family (most notably Vincent Laurensz van der Vinne from the 1650s) and thanks mostly to the efforts of Adrian van der Willigen in 1866 and 1870. A recent inventory by Hessel Miedema
has helped to give insight into the remains, while the Haarlem archives have been able to buy back lost records from enthusiastic researchers of the 19th century who never returned borrowed materials.
Guild
A guild is an association of craftsmen in a particular trade. The earliest types of guild were formed as confraternities of workers. They were organized in a manner something between a trade union, a cartel, and a secret society...
for a large number of trades falling under the patron saints Luke the Evangelist
Luke the Evangelist
Luke the Evangelist was an Early Christian writer whom Church Fathers such as Jerome and Eusebius said was the author of the Gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles...
and Saint Eligius
Saint Eligius
Saint Eligius is the patron saint of goldsmiths, other metalworkers, and coin collectors. He is also the patron saint of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers , a corps of the British Army, but he is best known for being the patron saint of horses and those who work with them...
.
History
During the lifetime of Geertgen tot Sint JansGeertgen tot Sint Jans
Geertgen tot Sint Jans , also known as Geertgen van Haarlem, Gerrit van Haarlem, Gerrit Gerritsz, Gheertgen, Geerrit, Gheerrit, or any other diminutive form of Gerald, was an Early Netherlandish painter from the northern Low Countries in the Holy Roman Empire...
, there was probably a painter's guild in Haarlem
Haarlem
Haarlem is a municipality and a city in the Netherlands. It is the capital of the province of North Holland, the northern half of Holland, which at one time was the most powerful of the seven provinces of the Dutch Republic...
, but all records of such an organization have been lost. If one existed, it would probably have been associated with the Janskerk (Haarlem)
Janskerk (Haarlem)
The Janskerk or St. John's Church is a former church in the Dutch city of Haarlem. Today it houses the North Holland Archives .-History:...
, where Geertgen was active as a respected painter. The earliest mention of the Haarlem Guild of St. Luke is from 1496, when the heirs of Joost Huge Alboutsdr, who had been the former owner of the location of the altar in the Sint-Bavokerk
Sint-Bavokerk
The Grote Kerk or St.-Bavokerk is a Protestant church and former Catholic cathedral located on the central market square in the Dutch city of Haarlem...
, ceded all altar rights which up to then had been for the Ascension of the Virgin, to the Guild of St. Luke and St. Eligius. This is possibly also the year that the Guild switched its altar from the Janskerk to the Bavokerk. The guild was for painters and gold- and silversmiths, with St. Luke being the patron saint of the painters, and St. Eligius being the patron saint for the smiths.
Earliest charter
The earliest charter for the guild no longer exists, but the earliest one still in the archives is from 1514. That charter remained in effect until the beeldenstormBeeldenstorm
Beeldenstorm in Dutch, roughly translatable to "statue storm", or Bildersturm in German , also the Iconoclastic Fury, is a term used for outbreaks of destruction of religious images that occurred in Europe in the 16th century...
, whereupon the guild altar found temporary housing in the Vrouwenbroerskerk, since the Bavokerk had become protestant and all the guilds had left the church. The Vrouwenbroerskerk was the church of the Carmelites
Carmelites
The Order of the Brothers of Our Lady of Mount Carmel or Carmelites is a Catholic religious order perhaps founded in the 12th century on Mount Carmel, hence its name. However, historical records about its origin remain uncertain...
, whose monastery is gone, but whose archives survive today. Of the original complex, only the entrance gate still stands on the Grote Houtstraat. These archives recorded that a kessophel (chasuble
Chasuble
The chasuble is the outermost liturgical vestment worn by clergy for the celebration of the Eucharist in Western-tradition Christian Churches that use full vestments, primarily in the Roman Catholic, Anglican and Lutheran churches, as well as in some parts of the United Methodist Church...
) was donated to this altar in 1575 by Elisabeth van Dorp. After Haarlem lost the Siege of Haarlem
Siege of Haarlem
The siege of Haarlem was an episode of the Eighty Years' War. From December 11, 1572 to July 13, 1573 an army of Philip II of Spain laid bloody siege to the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands, whose loyalties had begun wavering during the previous summer...
in 1573, it became a Catholic enclave that officially fell under the rule of Philip II of Spain
Philip II of Spain
Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
. It wasn't until 1577 that the local bishop Godfried van Mierlo
Godfried van Mierlo
Godfried van Mierlo was bishop of Haarlem and abbot of Egmond Abbey from 1570 to 1578.-Biography:...
set his seal to the "Satisfactie van Haarlem
Satisfactie van Haarlem
The Satisfactie van Haarlem was one of many treaties in the city of Veere in 1577 where Willem the Silent ensured the loyalty of the cities under his rule....
" wherein he promised to swear allegiance to Willem the Silent rather than Philip II, on the condition that the Catholics would keep the same rights as Protestants. Though Haarlem, like Amsterdam with its "Alteratie
Alteratie
The Alteratie is the name given to the change of power in Amsterdam on May 26, 1578, when the Catholic city-government was deposed in favor of a Protestant one. The coup should be seen in the context of the greater Dutch Revolt that was breaking out in this time...
", reverted the Catholic rights of this "Satisfactie" a year later, it was this special Catholic-friendly reputation that attracted many from the south that added to the city's wealth in its golden age.
In 1576, a decision was made on September 28 to make a devotional piece for St. Eligius, since only St. Luke was now represented. This referred to the painting by Martin van Heemskerck, which does not display St. Eligius, but shows St. Luke painting the Virgin. This painting was quite large, and though it shows a pottery (faience
Faience
Faience or faïence is the conventional name in English for fine tin-glazed pottery on a delicate pale buff earthenware body, originally associated with Faenza in northern Italy. The invention of a white pottery glaze suitable for painted decoration, by the addition of an oxide of tin to the slip...
) baker as St. Luke and sculptures and woodcarvings abound in it, there is no sign of any smith work in it. The signed paper attached at the bottom of the painting is recorded by Karel van Mander and states that Heemskerck painted it for his colleagues in the guild. Heemskerk had painted this before he traveled to Italy, and when he came back he became charter master of the guild from 1550-1552. Apparently the smiths were dissatisfied with their representation in the running of the guild, and this caused a guild dispute, because the goldsmiths broke away into their own guild in 1576, only to return in the charter of 1590 again.
Charter of 1590
After the siege of AntwerpSiege of Antwerp
The Siege of Antwerp was an engagement between the German and the Belgian armies during World War I. A small number of British and Austrian troops took part as well.-Strategic Context:...
in 1585, many families fled north and since Antwerp was a major center for painting, the Haarlem market was flooded with professional painters who competed with Haarlem's own craftsmen. To protect the market, a new charter was issued in 1590. That this was necessary is evidenced by the fact that new charters were issued soon after the beeldenstorm in most Dutch cities that had converted to Protestantism and were embroiled in the Eighty years war.
Some guild membership grants after the Reformation
- Cornelis EngelszCornelis EngelszCornelis Engelsz , was a Dutch Golden Age painter and the father of Johannes Cornelisz Verspronck.-Biography:According to Houbraken he was a pupil of Karel van Mander and a colleague of Frans Hals in Haarlem....
, (father of Johannes Cornelisz VerspronckJohannes Cornelisz VerspronckJohannes Cornelisz. Verspronck was a gifted Dutch Golden Age portraitist.-Biography:...
) 1593 - Cornelis Claesz van WieringenCornelis Claesz van WieringenCornelis Claesz van Wieringen was a Dutch Golden Age painter.-Biography:He was the son of a Haarlem captain, and drew, painted and etched with his friends Hendrick Goltzius and Cornelis van Haarlem. He also held important positions in the Haarlem Guild of St...
1597 - Frans Pietersz de GrebberFrans Pietersz de GrebberFrans Pietersz de Grebber , was a Dutch Golden Age painter.-Biography:According to van Mander he was a good painter of landscapes and portraits, who designed tapestries and had been a pupil of Jacob Savery...
, (father of the painters PieterPieter de GrebberPieter Fransz de Grebber was a Dutch Golden Age painter.-Life:De Grebber was the oldest son of Frans Pietersz de Grebber , a painter and embroiderer in Haarlem, and the brother of the painters Maria and Albert. He learned to paint from his father and from Hendrick Goltzius...
, MariaMaria de GrebberMaria de Grebber , was a Dutch Golden Age painter.-Biography:According to Houbraken she was the daughter of the painter Frans Pietersz de Grebber and the sister of Pieter de Grebber, whose father taught them both to paint...
, and Albert) 1600 - Frans HalsFrans HalsFrans Hals was a Dutch Golden Age painter. He is notable for his loose painterly brushwork, and helped introduce this lively style of painting into Dutch art. Hals was also instrumental in the evolution of 17th century group portraiture.-Biography:Hals was born in 1580 or 1581, in Antwerp...
, (father of the painters HarmenHarmen HalsHerman, or Harmen Hals , was a Dutch Golden Age painter.-Biography:According to Houbraken he was the son of the painter Frans Hals and was like his brothers Jan and Frans II, good at music and painting. He was a member of the Haarlem Guild of St...
, FransFrans Hals JuniorFrans Hals Junior , was a Dutch Golden Age painter.-Biography:According to Houbraken he was the son of the painter Frans Hals and was like his brothers Harman and Jan, good at music and painting. He was a member of the Haarlem Guild of St. Luke.According to the RKD he painted portraits and genre...
, ReynierReynier Hals-Biography:According to Houbraken who did not mention him specifically as one of the sons of the painter Frans Hals, he was like his brothers Harman, Frans II, and Jan, good at music and painting....
, and NicolaesNicolaes HalsNicolaes Hals , was a Dutch Golden Age painter.-Biography:According to Houbraken who mistakenly mentioned him as one of the grandsons of the painter Frans Hals by his son Jan, he was like his brothers Harman, Frans II, and Jan, good at music and painting.According to the RKD he was the son of Frans...
), Floris Claesz van DijckFloris Claesz van DijckFloris van Dyck, also called Floris van Dijck or Floris Claesz. van Dyck , was a Dutch Golden Age still life painter.-Biography:...
1610 - Willem Buytewech, Esaias van de VeldeEsaias van de VeldeEsaias van de Velde was a Dutch landscape painter.-Biography:Born in Amsterdam, where his Flemish father Hans had fled as a Protestant in 1585, he probably studied under his father and Gillis van Coninxloo, a landscape painter from Antwerp and a follower of Pieter Brueghel the Elder...
, Hercules SeghersHercules SeghersHercules Pieterszoon Seghers or Segers was a Dutch painter and printmaker of the Dutch Golden Age. Segers is in fact the more common form in contemporary documents, and was used by the painter himself...
1612 - Jan van de VeldeJan van de VeldeJan van de Velde the younger was a Dutch Golden Age painter and engraver of animal, landscape and still-life subjects. He was the son of Jan van de Velde the Elder and the father of the still life painter Jan Jansz van de Velde.-Biography:Van de Velde was born in either Delft or Rotterdam...
1613 - Jacob van CampenJacob van CampenJacob van Campen , was a Dutch artist and architect of the Golden Age.-Life:He was born into a wealthy family at Haarlem, and spent his youth in his home town. Being of noble birth and with time on his hands, he took up painting mainly as a pastime...
1614 - Pieter de Molyn 1616
- Jan van Goyen 1617/8
- Salomon van Ruysdael, Pieter Saenredam, Pieter PostPieter PostPieter Jansz Post was a Dutch Golden Age architect, painter and printmaker.-Biography:...
, Hans Bollongier, Johannes BosschaertJohannes BosschaertJohannes Bosschaert was a member of the Bosschaert family of still life painters.-Biography:...
1623 - Pieter SoutmanPieter SoutmanPieter Claesz Soutman was a Dutch Golden Age painter and printmaker from Haarlem.- Biography :Soutman was born and died in Haarlem, where he was a contemporary of Frans Hals, Hendrick Gerritsz Pot, and Pieter Claesz, and seems to have been influenced by all three, considering the various...
, Jan MathamJan MathamJan Matham , was a Dutch Golden Age painter.-Biography:According to the RKD he was the son of Jacob Matham, brother of Theodor and Adriaen, and signed his works "JMatham F". He is known for fruit still lifes and engravings. He was a member of the Haarlem Guild of St. Luke in 1628 and in...
(son of Jacob MathamJacob MathamJacob Matham , of Haarlem, was a famous engraver and pen-draftsman.-Biography:He was the stepson and pupil of painter and draftsman Hendrik Goltzius, and brother-in-law to engraver Simon van Poelenburgh, having married his sister, Marijtgen...
), 1628 - Salomon de BraySalomon de BraySalomon de Bray was a Dutch Golden Age architect and painter.-Biography:De Bray was born inAmsterdam, but established himself in Haarlem before 1617, where he is registered as being a member of the schutterij that year in the St. Adrian's cloveniers...
, (father of the painters Jan, Dirck, and Jozef) 1630 - Willem de PoorterWillem de Poorter-Biography:According to Houbraken he painted a very good Queen of Sheba, but he painted mostly still lifes.His surviving paintings today are mainly small historical allegories and still lifes with metal objects. Though he has been considered in the past by 19th century historians to have been a...
, Willem Claeszoon HedaWillem Claeszoon HedaWillem Claeszoon Heda was one of the earliest Dutch Golden Age artists devoted exclusively to the painting of still lifes.-Biography:Heda was born in Haarlem,...
, Sara van Baalbergen 1631 - Pieter de GrebberPieter de GrebberPieter Fransz de Grebber was a Dutch Golden Age painter.-Life:De Grebber was the oldest son of Frans Pietersz de Grebber , a painter and embroiderer in Haarlem, and the brother of the painters Maria and Albert. He learned to paint from his father and from Hendrick Goltzius...
, Johannes Berendrecht 1632 - Judith LeysterJudith LeysterJudith Jans Leyster was a Dutch Golden Age painter. She was one of three significant women artists in Dutch Golden Age painting; the other two, Rachel Ruysch and Maria van Oosterwijk, were specialized painters of flower still-lifes, while Leyster painted genre works, a few portraits, and a...
1633 - Adriaen van OstadeAdriaen van OstadeAdriaen van Ostade was a Dutch Golden Age painter of genre works.-Life:...
1634 - Jacob DuckJacob DuckJacob Duck was a Dutch painter and etcher.Duck is thought to have been born in Utrecht. From 1611, he was trained in Utrecht to become a goldsmith, in which craft he became a master in 1619. From 1621 he took drawing lessons from Joost Cornelisz Droochsloot...
1636 - Philips AngelPhilips AngelPhilips Angel was a Dutch Golden Age painter.-Biography:There has been some confusion about the identity of this painter, since he seems to have had a rather sober professional career, despite being ambitious enough to travel far from his native Middelburg...
, Floris van SchootenFloris van SchootenFloris van Schooten, , was a Dutch Golden Age still life painter.-Biography:According to the RKD, Van Schooten was the son of a leading Catholic family of Amsterdam who came to live in Haarlem in 1612...
1639 - Philips Wouwerman 1640
- Nicolaes Berchem (as Claes Pietersen, son of Pieter ClaeszPieter ClaeszPieter Claesz was a Dutch Golden Age still life painter.-Biography:He was born in Berchem, Belgium, near Antwerp, where he became a member of the Guild of St. Luke in 1620. He moved to Haarlem in 1621, where his son, the landscape painter Nicolaes Pieterszoon Berchem was born...
) 1642 - Isaac van OstadeIsaac van OstadeIsaac van Ostade was a Dutch genre and landscape painter.-Biography:Van Ostade began his studies under his brother, Adriaen, with whom he remained till 1641, when he started his own practice...
1643 - Pieter WouwermanPieter WouwermanPieter Wouwerman , was a Dutch Golden Age landscape painter.-Biography:According to Houbraken he was the brother of the landscape painters Jan and Philips Wouwerman, who like his more famous brother, made a living selling Italianate landscapes in the manner of Pieter van Laer...
, Frans PostFrans PostFrans Janszoon Post was a Dutch painter. He was the first European artist to paint landscapes of America. In 1636 he traveled to Dutch Brazil at the invitation of Johan Maurits van Nassau-Siegen.- Biography :...
1646 - Hendrick MommersHendrick MommersHendrick Mommers , was a Dutch Golden Age landscape painter.-Biography:According to Houbraken he was a Haarlem painter of vegetable market scenes, who was the first teacher of the young painter Dirk Maas, who later took lessons from the more famous landscape painter Nicolaes Berchem. Mommers died...
1647 - Vincent van der VinneVincent van der VinneVincent Laurensz van der Vinne was a Dutch Mennonite painter, linen-weaver, and writer.- Biography :He lived and worked in Haarlem and was a student of Frans Hals for nine months in 1647. In 1649 he became a member of the Haarlem Guild of St. Luke. In 1652 he left on a Grand Tour through Germany,...
1649 - Caesar van EverdingenCaesar van EverdingenCesar Pietersz, or Cesar Boetius van Everdingen , older brother of Allart van Everdingen and Jan van Everdingen, was a Dutch Golden Age portrait and history painter.-Biography:...
1651 - Cornelis VisscherCornelis VisscherCornelis Visscher , was a Dutch Golden Age engraver and the brother of Jan de Visscher and Lambert Visscher.-Biography:...
1653 - Cornelis Pietersz BegaCornelis Pietersz BegaCornelis Pietersz Bega, or Cornelis Pietersz Begijn was a Dutch painter and engraver.He lived and worked in Haarlem and was the son of sculptor and goldsmith Pieter Jansz. Begijn. His mother Maria was the daughter of the Haarlem painter Cornelis van Haarlem. He assumed the name Bega when he...
, Job Adriaensz Berckheyde 1654 - Jan WouwermanJan WouwermanJan Wouwerman was a Dutch Golden Age painter.-Biography:Wouwerman was born and died in Haarlem. According to Houbraken he was the youngest brother of the painters Philips and Pieter Wouwerman, who lived and worked in Haarlem...
- Gerrit Adriaenszoon BerckheydeGerrit Adriaenszoon BerckheydeGerrit Adriaenszoon Berckheyde was a Dutch Golden Age painter, active in Haarlem, Amsterdam, and The Hague, who is best known today for his cityscapes.-Biography:...
1660 - Isaak van NickelenIsaak van NickelenIsaak van Nickelen , was a Dutch Golden Age painter.-Biography:According to Houbraken he painted church interiors in the manner of Hendrick Cornelisz. van Vliet....
1660 - Jan SteenJan SteenJan Havickszoon Steen was a Dutch genre painter of the 17th century . Psychological insight, sense of humour and abundance of colour are marks of his trade.-Life:...
1661 - Edwaert Collier 1663
- Pieter FrisPieter FrisPieter Fris , was a Dutch Golden Age landscape painter.-Biography:According to Houbraken he was a painter of moralistic and fantasy pieces who joined the Bentvueghels in Rome at the young age of 17 with the nickname Welgemoed for withstanding his acceptance ceremony without flinching...
1666 - Jan de BrayJan de BrayJan de Bray , was a Dutch Golden Age painter.-Biography:Jan de Bray was born in Haarlem. According to Houbraken he was the most famous pupil of his father, the architect and poet Salomon de Bray. Houbraken called Jan the "pearl in Haarlem's crown"...
1667 - Jacob van Huchtenburg 1669
- Jan van Huchtenburg 1670
- Dirck de BrayDirck de BrayDirck de Bray was a Dutch Golden Age painter.-Biography:According to Houbraken he was a multi-talented son and pupil of the painter and architect Salomon de Bray. He was known as a flower painter, but he could also sculpt...
1671 - Dirk MaasDirk MaasDirk Maas , was a Dutch Golden Age landscape painter.-Biography:According to Houbraken he was first a pupil of Hendrick Mommers, a Haarlem painter of vegetable market scenes, and then took lessons from Nicolaes Berchem, who he probably met through Mommers.. Maas became a follower of Berchem's...
1678 - Cornelis DusartCornelis DusartCornelis Dusart was a Dutch genre painter, draftsman, and printmaker.He was born in Haarlem. Dusart was a pupil of Adriaen van Ostade from about 1675 to 1679, and was accepted into the Haarlem Guild of St. Luke in 1679. His works are similar in style and subject to those of his mentor...
1679 - Jan van NickelenJan van NickelenJan van Nickelen , was a Dutch Golden Age painter.-Biography:According to Houbraken he learned to paint from his father Isaak van Nickelen, who taught him perspective and who sent him to school to learn Latin and French....
1688
Loss of the St. Luke relic
In 1517 a relic of St. Luke had been donated for the altar by the painter Barthel Pons, who had gotten it from the cardinal Christoforo da Forli (with the additional title S. Maria Aracoeli). This relic was accompanied by an indulgence of 100 days to whoever would say their Paternoster and Ava maria at the altar. Apparently Pieter Fransz de Grebber gave this relic to the Franciscan monk Joannes Cloribus van Brugge in 1627 for safekeeping. In 1632 the St. Lucas guild masters were very upset about this and Salomon de BraySalomon de Bray
Salomon de Bray was a Dutch Golden Age architect and painter.-Biography:De Bray was born inAmsterdam, but established himself in Haarlem before 1617, where he is registered as being a member of the schutterij that year in the St. Adrian's cloveniers...
tried to get it back, but to no avail. In 1641 they tried once again to get the relic back, but it seems to have disappeared.
The failed Charter of 1631
The immigration of Flemish painters after the fall of Antwerp in 1585 added a great deal to the painting community of Haarlem and artistically the city flourished, with an astounding production of oil paintings. Between 1605 and 1635 over 100,000 paintings were produced in Haarlem. The competition for commissions was very high, however, and the 1590 charter was apparently not considered protective enough. In 1631 a new charter was released again, and this charter is so detailed that it tells us much more about the art of painting and art dealing than it does about the artists themselves. It was prepared by Salomon de Bray, and he described a hierarchy of guild members that apparently met with a lot of opposition. His first petition to pass this charter was denied with the remark that it was too long, and the second attempt was not passed at all. Essentially the charter of 1590 held up until the guild was dissolved altogether in 1795 by Napoleonic decree.The Guild masters in 1631
In the introduction to the charter of 1631, the guildmasters present their proposal of the charter to the city fathers. The signers of this proposal were Pieter de MolijnPieter de Molijn
Pieter de Molijn was a Dutch Golden Age painter and engraver born in England.-Biography:He was baptized in the Dutch Reformed Austin Friars church in London. Little is known of his early training, but he probably traveled to Italy and in 1616 he became a member of the Haarlem Guild of St. Luke. He...
, Outgert Ariss Akersloot, Willem Claesz Heda, Salomon de Bray, Cornelis Cornelisz, Cornelis Claesz van Wieringen
Cornelis Claesz van Wieringen
Cornelis Claesz van Wieringen was a Dutch Golden Age painter.-Biography:He was the son of a Haarlem captain, and drew, painted and etched with his friends Hendrick Goltzius and Cornelis van Haarlem. He also held important positions in the Haarlem Guild of St...
, Floris van Dyck, and Isaak Halinck.
| St. Luke Guild | Artists | Painters: | Masters. |
| Art dealers, students, boys | |||
| Craftsmen: | Etchers, glass-cutters, sculptors, carvers, metal-workers. | ||
| Architects, surveyors, mathmeticians, rare arts. | |||
| Dependents: | Rough painters, plate-makers, mirror-makers, house-painters. | Other arts: | |
| Printers, pottery bakers, shriners, paint-mixers, engravers. | |||
| Lower handicrafts: | Gold- & Silversmiths, book-binders, copper-, brass-, tin- and lead workers, plumbers, and roof tilers. | ||
| Glass-makers, embroiderers, carpet-makers, weavers, lantern-makers & solderers. |
Legacy
Hessel Miedema
Hessel Miedema is a leading Dutch art historian and the world authority on Karel van Mander.-Biography:He was born in Sneek, but grew up in Amsterdam, where he studied art history at the University of Amsterdam. After his studies in 1957 he became curator of the Princessehof Ceramics Museum in...
has helped to give insight into the remains, while the Haarlem archives have been able to buy back lost records from enthusiastic researchers of the 19th century who never returned borrowed materials.