Paintings — Auktion 83: Antiquitäten & Moderne Kunst
Nicolaes Pieterszoon Berchem was a highly esteemed and prolific Dutch Golden Age painter of pastoral landscapes, populated with mythological or biblical figures, but also of a number of allegories and genre pieces.
He was a member of the second generation of "Dutch Italianate landscape" painters. These were artists who travelled to Italy, or aspired to, in order to soak up the romanticism of the country, bringing home sketchbooks full of drawings of classical ruins and pastoral imagery. His paintings, of which he produced an immense number, (Hofstede de Groot claimed around 850, although many are misattributed), were in great demand, as were his 80 etchings and 500 drawings. His landscapes, painted in the Italian style of idealized rural scenes, with hills, mountains, cliffs and trees in a golden dawn are sought after. Berchem also painted inspired and attractive human and animal figures (staffage) in works of other artists, like Allaert van Everdingen, Jan Hackaert, Gerrit Dou, Meindert Hobbema and Willem Schellinks.
Aelbert Jacobsz. Cuyp was a Dutch Baroque painter, graphic artist and printmaker.
Aelbert is the successor of a dynasty of painters from Dordrecht. He was one of the leading Dutch landscape painters of the Dutch Golden Age. A pupil of his father, the painter Jacob Gerritsz. Cuyp (1594-1651), he is known primarily for his landscapes of the Dutch countryside in the light of early morning or late evening. But Aelbert Cuyp also painted canvases on biblical, mythological, and historical themes, still lifes, and portraits. The Italian style is evident in his works.
Egbert van Heemskerck, or Egbert Jaspersz van Heemskerk was a Haarlem Dutch Golden Age painter of genre works who died in London in 1704. He is often confused with another genre painter also called Egbert van Heemskerk III who lived c. 1676 – 1744.
Jan van Kessel the Elder or Jan van Kessel I was a Flemish painter active in Antwerp in the mid 17th century. A versatile artist he practised in many genres including studies of insects, floral still lifes, marines, river landscapes, paradise landscapes, allegorical compositions, scenes with animals and genre scenes. A scion of the Brueghel family many of his subjects took inspiration of the work of his grandfather Jan Brueghel the Elder as well as from the earlier generation of Flemish painters such as Daniel Seghers, Joris Hoefnagel and Frans Snyders. Van Kessel’s works were highly prized by his contemporaries and were collected by skilled artisans, wealthy merchants, nobles and foreign luminaries throughout Europe.
Paulus Potter was a Dutch painter who specialized in animals within landscapes, usually with a low vantage point.
Before Potter died of tuberculosis at the age of 28 he succeeded in producing about 100 paintings, working continuously.
Jacob van Ruisdael, a preeminent Dutch painter, etcher, and draughtsman of the 17th century, is celebrated for his masterful landscape paintings, which significantly influenced the course of Western landscape art. Born around 1628/29 in Haarlem, Netherlands, into a family of artists, Ruisdael was an integral part of the Dutch Golden Age of painting.
Although the specifics of his training are unclear, it's believed that he was influenced by his father, uncle, and other local Haarlem landscapists like Cornelis Vroom and Allaert van Everdingen. Ruisdael's works are renowned for their dramatic depictions of Dutch landscapes, combining detailed natural observation with a monumental composition style. His paintings often feature striking forest scenes or sweeping panoramic views of cities like Haarlem.
Ruisdael's oeuvre spans a wide range, from serene forest scenes and turbulent seascapes to bustling cityscapes and desolate ruins. His handling of light and atmosphere in these settings is particularly noteworthy, adding a dramatic and emotional depth to the landscapes.
Some speculation surrounds Ruisdael's life, including the possibility of him practicing medicine in Amsterdam; however, this remains a topic of debate among historians. His travels seem to have been limited within the Netherlands and possibly to Germany, but he never visited Scandinavia, despite painting numerous Norwegian landscapes.
Today, Ruisdael's works are held in high esteem and are a part of major collections worldwide, including the National Gallery in London, the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, and the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg. Notable works include "The Jewish Cemetery," "View of Haarlem with Bleaching Grounds," and "Bentheim Castle," all showcasing his characteristic treatment of nature and light.
For art enthusiasts and collectors, Ruisdael's works offer a profound insight into the landscape painting of the Dutch Golden Age. His influence extends across various art movements and continues to be celebrated in the art world. Those interested in his work are encouraged to explore collections in renowned museums and keep informed about new sales and auction events related to Ruisdael's artworks.
For those with a keen interest in the works of Jacob van Ruisdael and the rich heritage of Dutch landscape painting, there is an exclusive opportunity to stay connected with the latest developments in this field. By subscribing to our updates, you will receive timely information on new product sales and auction events specifically related to the art of Jacob van Ruisdael. This service is particularly valuable for collectors and experts in art and antiques, offering insights into available pieces and upcoming opportunities to acquire works from this influential artist.
Jan Havickszoon Steen was a Dutch painter of the Golden Age, a member of the Harlem and Leiden Guilds of St. Luke. Steen is one of the most important Dutch genre painters of his time. Most of his several hundred paintings focus on human morality with the aim of teaching the viewer a moral lesson. They often refer to proverbs or old Dutch literary texts. In addition to genre paintings, Sten explored a variety of subjects: he painted historical, mythological and religious scenes, still lifes and landscapes.
David Teniers the Younger was a Flemish Baroque painter, printmaker, draughtsman, miniaturist painter, staffage painter, copyist and art curator. He was an extremely versatile artist known for his prolific output. He was an innovator in a wide range of genres such as history painting, genre painting, landscape painting, portrait and still life. He is now best remembered as the leading Flemish genre painter of his day. Teniers is particularly known for developing the peasant genre, the tavern scene, pictures of collections and scenes with alchemists and physicians.
He was court painter and the curator of the collection of Archduke Leopold Wilhelm, the art-loving Governor General of the Habsburg Netherlands. He created a printed catalogue of the collections of the Archduke. He was the founder of the Antwerp Academy, where young artists were trained to draw and sculpt in the hope of reviving Flemish art after its decline following the death of the leading Flemish artists Rubens and Anthony van Dyck in the early 1640s. He influenced the next generation of Northern genre painters as well as French Rococo painters such as Antoine Watteau.
Jan Weenix was a Dutch painter of the Golden Age and a member of the Guild of St. Luke in Utrecht.
He received his first painting lessons from his father Jan Baptist Weenix and later perfected his art. Jan Weenix is known for still lifes with game, hunting scenes, he painted landscapes and portraits, genre paintings, and created decorative panels. Among the customers of his works was also Tsar Peter I.
Christian Wilhelm Ernst Dietrich, also known as Christian Guillaume Ernest Dietricy, was a German painter and printmaker.
He was born in Weimar, Thuringia, into the family of the court painter Johann Georg Dietrich, and received his first training from his father. Dietrich worked in a variety of techniques and artistic movements of his time.
The talented artist took up any subjects: stories from the Old and New Testament, allegory and mythology, as well as portraits, genre scenes, portrayed ordinary people and livestock, painted coats of arms and vignettes, and more.
In 1764, Dietrich was appointed director of the painting school of the Meissen porcelain manufactory. The following year he became a professor at the Dresden Academy of Fine Arts. Works of Christian Wilhelm Dietrich can be found in many museums in Europe.
Antoine Pesne was a French and German painter of the first half of the 18th century. He is known as a painter, portraitist and is considered one of the most important representatives of the Friderician Rococo.
Pesne was court painter to three Prussian kings and director of the Prussian Academy of Arts and Mechanical Sciences. Beginning in the Baroque style, he later became one of the fathers of Rococo painting, combining the French school with this style. His decorative works, including mythological and allegorical scenes, adorned buildings in Rheinsberg, Berlin, and Potsdam. Pesne contributed to the spread of French influence on art in the capitals of Europe.
Johann Sebastian Bach was a German Baroque composer, Kapellmeister, organist and teacher.
Johann Sebastian Bach was the youngest child in the family of musician Johann Ambrosius Bach (1645-1695) and belonged to a large family of North German musicians whose dynasty he himself traced back to his great-great-grandfather Veit Bach, a Lutheran baker in the late 16th century. Johann was orphaned at an early age and was taken into care by his older brother, the organist Johann Christoph Bach. In August 1703 he was appointed official organist of the church in Arnstadt, then from 1714 he worked as Kapellmeister and concertmaster at the Weimar court, to which time his first compositions date. In 1736 he was appointed court composer to the King of Saxony, thus recognizing his merits as a composer and organist. While working as a concertmaster, Bach also mastered almost all the instruments in the orchestra.
In the last years of his life, Bach was nearly blind and living poorly, and his Baroque music was considered outdated as tastes changed. But in the 19th century, interest in Bach's works increased dramatically, and he became the favorite composer of many subsequent musicians. Johann Sebastian's sons Wilhelm Friedemann, Carl Philipp Emanuel and Johann Christian continued the family dynasty and also became musicians. And Johann Sebastian Bach himself was surrounded by students throughout his life.
Although his contemporaries admired Bach's playing on the harpsichord and organ, today it is his compositions that are considered some of the finest works of mature Baroque music. His most widely known works today include the Brandenburg Concertos, the Well-Tempered Clavier, the Masses in B minor, and many other masterpieces of church and instrumental music. Bach's rich legacy includes sacred and secular compositions, especially cantatas, organ pieces and concertos (Bach composed more than 1,000 musical works in all significant genres of his time, except opera), which influenced many later composers. Johann Sebastian Bach was able to encompass and unite the major styles, forms and national traditions developed in previous generations. Today he is considered one of the greatest composers of all time.
