Page images
PDF
EPUB

drawn, and in the style of Karel du Jardin. See Landscape Painters.

SCHOTEL, JAN CHRISTIAN, may be ranked as the third great marine painter of Holland. In his calms he rivals William van de Velde, in his storms Backhuysen. His colouring is remarkably clear, his penciling masterly, his clouds float as in nature, the water is transparent, and, according to the scene, flows with placidity, or rolls majestically. Pictures by him are in great request, and almost unattainable. He was born at Dort in 1787, and died there in 1838.

SCHOTEL, PETER JAN, son and scholar of the preceding, paints in the manner of his father, and bids fair to be a formidable rival, especially in pictures of the cabinet size.

SMIT, OF SMIDT, A. There were several marine painters who signed their pictures with A. Smit. Some are of large dimensions representing storms, and are analogous to Backhuysen's, and have become dark; others of smaller size are clearer. One of the Schmidts, or Smidts, meddled with fable, and attempted Triumphs of Neptune and Amphitrite. There is a capital picture with this name in the Berlin Gallery.

His

STORCK, ABRAHAM, is quoted among the analogists of William van de Velde, but there is great difference between their style of painting, as well as their choice of subject. The best pictures by Abraham Storck are views on the Amstel, or the Y. These he fills with every class of marine vessel, ornamented with flags, and the stems and sterns of several enriched with carving, and all well manned. figures are particularly well drawn, and very active. He avails himself also of the noble buildings near the Amstel, and introduces them with considerable effect; and the scene is enlivened by promenaders in carriages, and on foot. The penciling of Storck is remarkably fluent and neat, and the colouring rich without gaudiness; but his pictures, however good they may be, do not hold rank with the works of William van de Velde, or Backhuysen. His chef-d'œuvre is a large picture representing the reception of John, Duke of Marlborough, in the river Amstel, in which the ships and state barges are numerous, richly decorated with flags, and crowded with figures in variety of costume.

[ocr errors]

STORCK, J. is supposed to have been the elder brother of the preceding. He painted similar subjects, but mostly on a smaller scale; they are inferior to Abraham's in every respect, but still have a pleasing character, being evidently imitations in execution and colouring as well as subject. They are generally signed with his name, J. Storck. SWAGERS, FRANCIS, was born at Utrecht in 1756, but resided chiefly in France. He painted landscapes and marine views off the coast of Holland, in which there is a mixture of the Dutch and French schools. He died in 1836.

VELDE, ADRIAN VAN DE. All this master's sea views are taken from the beach at Schevening. The sand hills of that locality form the back-ground; a fisherman's cottage and the spire of a church in the distance are the only variations. On the shore are groups of figures, apparently visitors to enjoy the view and the sea breezes; shrimpers, sailors lying on the beach, or engaged near their vessels, a man carrying a package, and a woman with a basket, a tilted waggon, or a carriage drawn by horses, with a party of ladies and gentlemen: on the sea are a few fishing vessels. Simple as these compositions are, they excite very pleasing sensations by their truth, harmonious colouring, and fine aërial perspective. See Adrian van de Velde, under the head of Principal Painters, and also of Landscape, Cattle and Figure Painters, and other subjects in the Alphabetical Classifications.

VELDE, WILLIAM VAN DE. See under Principal Painters. VERSCHUUR, LIEVEN, painted sea pieces and river views by moonlight, which are much esteemed. His manner resembles that of De Vlieger, but his colouring is clearer. He was a native of Rotterdam, and flourished towards the latter part of the seventeenth century.

van

VITRINGA, WIGERUS. See Analogists of W. van de Velde. VLIEGER, SIMON DE, reputed to be the master of W. de Velde, was a really excellent marine painter, if his pictures are judged by their composition and design. He represents the effect of a fresh breeze, or a gale, with a grandeur approaching Ruisdael, and his river views are remarkable for their flow, and perspective truth. Unfortunately he used treacherous colours, which causes his other merits to

be too generally overlooked.

He was born at Amsterdam in 1612: the time of his death is not ascertained.

WEENIX, or WEENINX, JAN BAPTISTE, painted Italian seaports admirably, in which he availed himself of the noble architecture of the country and the sculptures of antiquity to increase their grandeur, and with elegant forms and rich costumes to enliven the scene. They rank with the highest of the class. See Field Sports, Animals and Dead Game, &c. WIERENGEN, CORNELIUS NICOLAS VAN, born at Haerlem in 1600, excelled in the representations of storms at sea, and also as a landscape painter. His sea pieces are richly ornamented with vessels and figures. It is said that he died in 1658, but this is uncertain, as very little is known respecting him.

WILLAERTS, ADAM, born at Antwerp in 1577, painted seaports, views on the coast, and ships on fire; he introduces groups of small figures, which are neat and spirited. His pictures however have an antiquated appearance, and are not much regarded in commerce, though they were formerly held in estimation.

WYCK, THOMAS, represented seaports in the Mediterranean, in which he introduced numerous small figures of different nations, painted in a style approximating to that of Peter van Laar. They are executed with much spirit, a good body of colour, and have a lively effect.

ZEEMAN, REINIER, or REMIGIUS. See Analogists of W. van de Velde.

INTERIORS OF CHURCHES.

AVEMAN, WOLFF, was a scholar of Steenwyck, and painted interiors of churches and other buildings in the manner of his master. He died in 1620.

BABEUR, THEODORE, was a scholar of Peter Neefs the Elder, and painted interiors of churches in the manner of that master. He was born in 1570, and died in 1624.

BASSEN, B. VAN, flourished about the middle of the seventeenth century. His subjects are interiors of churches and other public buildings, which are executed with perspective truth and lively colour, and neatly penciled. The figures are by other artists of repute; but there is an apparent voidness in some of his interiors from want of objects to relieve the architecture.

BERKHEYDE, OF BERKHEYDEN, GERARD, whose principal works are exterior views of the great church at Haerlem, and of the Town Halls in several other places, occasionally painted interiors of Dutch Protestant churches, which he represented during the time of religious service. The figures, forming the congregation, are by his brother, Job. Pictures treated in this manner by the brothers must have been very few, as it is a rare occurrence to meet with one. See Analogists of Vander Heyde.

BLICKE, DANIEL VAN, painted in the manner of Van Vliet. He lived in 1656.

BRONKHORST, PETER VAN, painted interiors of churches and temples, which he enlivened with subjects from history in small figures. His manner partakes both of Steenwyck's and Neefs'. He was born at Delft in 1588, and died in 1661.

DALENS, or DELEN, THEODORE, or DIRCK, VAN, painted churches, temples, palaces, and other public buildings; they are frequently enlivened with figures by Van Herp, by which they may be distinguished. He was born about 1635 the time of his death is not noted.

FONTAINE, PIERRE LA, born at Courtrai in 1758, painted interiors of churches in the manner of Peter Neefs and Steenwyck. His imitations of those masters were so exact that they passed with many for their works. He died at Paris in 1835. This La Fontaine was an eminent picture dealer, and brought many of a high class to England, which he sold very profitably.

GHERING, JAN, a Flemish painter of architecture, flourished from the middle until towards the latter part of the seventeenth century. This is conjectured from finding his handsome façades of mansions, vestibules, terraces, and richly decorated saloons, forming auxiliaries to the landscapes and conversation parties of other eminent artists who lived during that time. Gonzales Coques was one that availed himself of the talents of Ghering to embellish his masterly compositions, by providing a scene suited to an assemblage of persons of elevated rank in society. He also painted perspective views and interiors of churches; the latter are of a grand character. His works are rare in England, and are seldom seen but in conjunction with those of other masters.

HOECKGEEST, or HOGEEST, GIOVACHIMO, or JOACHIM, painted interiors of churches in the style of Emanuel de Wit. He is known in England by his smaller pictures, which are not his best; there are two fine specimens in the Museum at the Hague, on one is the date 1651. He signed his pictures with a G for Giovachimo, which has caused some writers to mistake the master.

JUVENEL, PAUL, a scholar of Adam Elsheimer, painted interiors of churches, and was a skilful copyist of the older German and Flemish masters, particularly of the works of Albert Durer. He was born in 1579, and died in 1643.

NEEFS, PETER, the Elder, was born in 1570, and was a scholar of Steenwyck the Elder. He is reckoned the best of the Flemish painters in representations of the interiors of churches, for the accuracy of his perspective delineation, his delicate penciling, the sweetness of his colouring, and the

« PreviousContinue »