Confrerie Pictura

The Confrerie Pictura (also known as the Pictura Brotherhood or Society of Painters) was a Dutch artists' guild founded in The Hague in the mid-17th century. It was established in response to the growing number of painters in the city and the need for a professional organization to regulate the trade and ensure quality standards.

The Confrerie Pictura was unique among Dutch artists' guilds in that it was not limited to painters of a particular genre, but rather included artists of all types, including portraitists, landscape painters, and still life painters. The guild was known for its innovative and progressive approach to art, and its members were some of the most talented and influential artists of their time.

One of the most famous members of the Confrerie Pictura was Johannes Vermeer, who joined the guild in 1653. Other notable members included Gerard Dou, Jan Steen and Pieter de Hooch.

The Confrerie Pictura disbanded in the early 18th century due to changing social and economic conditions, but its legacy continued to influence Dutch art for centuries to come.