Pieter Aertsen (1508 - 1575)

Pieter Aertsen

Pieter Aertsen, a Dutch painter born in 1508 in Amsterdam and known as ‘Lange Pier’ for his height, was a significant figure in the Northern Mannerism style. His artistic journey began with religious paintings, but he became renowned in the 1550s for his pioneering work in domestic scenes, where he vividly portrayed everyday objects like furniture, cooking utensils, and food​​​​.

Pieter Aertsen is credited with inventing the monumental genre scene, a novel concept in painting that combined still life and genre painting, often incorporating a biblical scene in the background. This style is exemplified in his work "Butcher's Shop" (1551), which is considered the earliest example of Mannerist inversion of still life in Northern painting. In this work, the everyday subject matter of a butcher's stall is given more prominence than the historical or religious scene depicted in the background​​​​.

Pieter Aertsen's work reflected the rich mercantile culture of Antwerp, where he lived for many years before returning to Amsterdam in 1556. His paintings often included a wide range of subjects, from market scenes to kitchen tableaux, filled with an abundance of fruits, vegetables, meats, and other food items. His unique approach to painting, which combined the teachings of classical art with the ideas of contemporary artists, made a lasting impact on the genre​​.

In addition to his genre scenes, Pieter Aertsen continued to create religious works throughout his life, although many were lost during the waves of iconoclasm that swept across northern Europe during the Protestant Reformation. A surviving religious work of his is the "Crucifixion" in the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp​​.

Pieter Aertsen's legacy continued through his pupils, including Stradanus and his nephews, Joachim Beuckelaer and Huybrecht Beuckeleer. His influence on the development of still life and genre painting was profound, and his works remain a fascinating study for collectors and experts in art and antiques​​.

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