Still-life

Landscape.

Jacob van Ruisdael (1628-1682). A native of Harlem, born in artistic family, a member of artist guild of St Luke in Harlem. During his lifetime, his works were little appreciated, he suffered from poverty. Died in asylum of the town in 1682. 11 paintings in the H, “The Marsh” is considered the world masterpiece.

Simple scenes, he excelled as a painter of trees, particularly of oaks. He painted distant cities, coast scenes and see-pieces, but the artist was at his best, rendering lonely forest glades. There are some suggestions, that subjects of his mountain scenes were taken from Norway, which led to the proposal, that he had traveled to that country. However, there is no record of such a journey. The works in questions are near adaptations from landscapes of another artist. The prevailing color of his landscapes is full rich green, which has darkened with time. Though he had little scientific knowledge of the landscapes, his works are sensitive and poetic.

William Claesz Heda (1594-1618). One of the earliest Dutch golden age artist, devoted exclusively to the still-lives. This type developed from early Netherlandish group portraits, in which the forefront usually shown laid tables with an abundance of diverse epitasis. Still-lives were a great opportunity for demonstrating skills in paintings textures and surfaces in great detail with realistic light effects. Several types of subjects are recognized: banquets and breakfasts.

Usually all still-lives had a moralistic message, usually concerning the brevity of life. Sometimes represented by such obvious symbol as a scull, half-pilled lemon (sweet in appearance, but bitter to taste), flowers wilt and food decease and silver is of no use to the soul. Initially they painted common place objects, but from mid-18^th century still-lives with an exotic objects became more popular.

Born in Harlem, son of the Harlem-city architect, the member of the Guild. He shows considerable skill and taste in arrangement and coloring of his chased cups and pitchers of precious and inferior metals. Nothing is so empathizing as his fare – oysters, bread, champagne, olives and pastry. Even the more common place meals have charm. Head of many students. Most of his paintings today are on the European continent – in the galleries of Paris, Parma etc.

Rembrandt Harmins van Rien. 1606-1669 – a Dutch painter and etcher. He’s generally considered one of the greatest painters and print-makers in European art history (the most important in Dutch history). Having achieved youthfully success as a portrait-painter, his later years were marked with personal tragedy and financial hardships. Yet his etchings and paintings remained popular throughout his lifetime and he taught many important Dutch painters. His best works are portraits of his contemporaries, self-portraits and illustrations of scenes from the Bible. His biblical paintings are based of his knowledge of the specific text, assimilation of classical composition and his observations of Amsterdam Jewish population. The H possesses 26 paintings, displaced in a special room along with a works of his pupils.

Born in Layden, as the ninth child in a well-to-do family. His father was a miller, mother – baker’s daughter. As a boy, he attended Latin school and was enrolled into University of Layden, but already at that age showed great inclination to painting. He studied under a Layden history painter, briefly under Peter Lastman. He opened a studio in Layden in 1624 (25). Shortly after that he started accepting students. Since 1629 he was getting commissions from the court of the Hague. In 1631R moved to Amsterdam and began to practice as a professional portraitist with great success. In 1634 he married Saskia – a cousin of an art-dealer, with whom R collaborated. She came from a good family, her father was a layer and a mayor of the small town. In 1635 they moved into they own house in a fashionable district. In 1639 they moved still further to a district that was becoming a Jewish quarter (this house now is a museum) and the mortgage to finance the purchase became a primary cost for later financial difficulties. He should have been easily able to paid the house of with his large income, but it appears, he may have made some unsuccessful investments.

During that period, he frequently asked his Jewish neighbors to modal to his Old Testament scenes. The couple suffered the deaths of their first three children, only their fourth son Taitas survived into adulthood. Saskia died soon after his birth in 1642, possible from tuberculoses.

During her illness, a young woman was hired as Taitas’s nurse – she become R’s lover. She would later charge R with breach of promises and was appointed allowance of 200 guilders a years. R had worked to have her committed to a asylum and poor house at Gauda after learning, that she had pawn jewelry, that once belonged to Saskia and that he gave to her. In the late 1640^th R began a relationship with a much younger Henrike Shtofelts, who had initially been his maid. He had not married neither first (Greta) nor second so as not to lose access to a trust set up for tightness in Saskia’s will.

He lived beyond his means, buying art, prints and rarities. In 1656 to avoid bankruptcy he sold most of his paintings and large collection of antiquities. Still he was forced to sell his house and moved to more modest accommodation in 1660. Rembrandt outlived both Henrice (1663) and Taitas (1668), leaving the baby daughter. Was buried in an unmarked grave.

Historians claim that R had produced over 300 paintings, under 3000 prints and several thousands drawings. In a number of biblical works he painted himself as a character in the crowd. Among the more prominent characteristics in his works are the use of light and shadow, derived from Caravaggio, dramatic presentation of subjects.

“Flora” 1634. Artist painted his beloved wife as goddess of flowers and gardens, the portrait represents the happiest period of the artist’s life – he was loved, popular and rich. “Danae” 1636. “David and Jonathan” 1642 – with this painting he probably expressed his grief over Saskia’s death, painted himself as David and Saskia as Jonathan. The first painting by Rembrandt acquired by Peter the Great. “The Holy Family” 1645. “Portrait of an old man in red” 1652, “David and Uria” 1665 – all cloths are imaginary, “The returned of a prodigal son” 1660-89 – he summed up his own life.

Через зал истории античной живописи попадаем на парадную лестницу и проходим к Ван Дейку.

Flanders, emerged at the map of Europe, became an independent state (from Spain) in the beginning if 17th century. The art of Flanders is represented in the H with over 500 works of 140 artists. The H boasts large collections of Rubens, Van Daik, France Snaiders and so on.

Antony Van Daik 1599-1642. A Flemish baroque artist, who became the leading court-painter in England (Charles I). He is most famous for the portraits of Charles I and his court. He also painted biblical and mythological subjects, displaying outstanding facilities as a draftsman.

He was born in prosperous family in Antwerp, became an independent artist – set up a workshop in 1615. Within a few years he became the chief assistant to the dominant master of Antwerp ТВ the whole Northern Europe Peter Paul Rubens, whose influence on the young artist was immense. Rubens refereed to the 19-year old Van Daik as “the best of my students”. In 1620 he went to England for the first time, where he worked for King Kames I, receiving 1000 pounds. In London he first saw the work of Titian, whose use of color and subtle modeling of form greatly influenced the artist.

After 4 month he returned to Flanders and moved on to Italy, were he remained for 6 years, studying the Italian masters and beginning his career as a successful portraitist. According to his contemporaries, he behaved as a nobleman, had rich cloth, was accompanied by servants. He was mostly based in Genua, but travelled. For aristocracy he developed the full-length portrait, were extremely tall and graceful figures look down on the viewer.

In 1627 he returned to Antwerp, were he remained for 5 years, painting portraits, in which he made his patrons look as stylish as possible. He was very charming with his teachers and like Rubens was able to mix well an aristocratic and court circles, which added to his ability to obtain commissions.

Charles I was the most passionate and generous collector of art among the brutish monarchs. Since his accession in 1625, he was trying to bring leading foreign painters to England. Rubens his especial target, who eventually came on a diplomatic mission, which included painting, in 1630. Later supplied more paintings from Antwerp.

April 1632 Van Daik returned to London, was knighted and received the pension of 200 pounds a year. He was well paid for paintings in addition to this – at least in theory, as King Charles didn’t pay his pension for 5 years and reduce the price for a lot of paintings. Artist was provided with a house on the river outside the city and a suite of rooms at Ilthem palace was provided as a treat. His house was frequently visited by King and Queen. In England had immediate success in England, rapidly painted a number of large portraits of a King and a Queen. Some portraits were done in several versions to be sent as a diplomatic gifts or be given to supporters. In total 40 portraits of Charles, 29 of a queen etc. He painted many of a court, himself and is mistress.

He developed a style, which combine a relaxed elegance and ease with an understate authority in his subject. Many of his portraits have a lush landscape background. He married in Britain in 1638 – a daughter of lord Ruthven, his wife was a lady in waiting for the Queen. In the summer of 1641 he went to France, were he fell seriously ill, returned hurriedly to London, where he died, leaving a daughters each by his wife and mistress. Buried in St Paul’s cathedral.

Early 1630^th – “Rest on the flight to Egypt” + “Self-portrait”.

France Snayders (1571-1657). Animals and still-lives. Studied under Peter Broigel the younger, was a friend of Van Daik, who painted him and his family more than once. Initially devoted himself to painting flowers, fruit and still-lives, but later turned to painting animals and executed with greatest skill and spirit in hunting pieces and combats of wild animals. He was one of the earliest specialist animalists. He was so good, the Rubens frequently employed him to paint animals, fruit and still-lives on his own pictures.

“Fish market”, “Green grocery stole” – 1620^th. The famous stoles (5) by Snayders were painted for decoration of a dining room in a house of a Brussels officials. The paintings are very typical of his manner and are considered great hints to the richness of nature. The artist also display profound knowledge in the types and kinds of plants and fish.

Peter Paul Robens 1577-1640. 40 paintings in H.

A Flemish baroque painter, whose style is full of movement, color and sensuality. He is best known for his altar pieces (Снятие с креста например) “Descent off the cross”, portraits (“In-waiting of Infanta Isobella”), mythological (“Union of Earth and water”, “Perseus and Andromeda”) and allegorical subjects. His paintings produced in a large studio in Antwerp[ were popular in nobility circles and art collectors throughout Europe. In addition R was scholar, art-collector and diplomat.
Born in Westphalia (Germany). And shortly after he was born the family moved to Cologne. After his father died family returned to Antwerp, where he was raced to catholic.

At the age of 14 he started his artistic apprenticeship ученичество. In 1598 he completed his studies and entered to guild of St. Luke. (Св. Лука покровитель художников, его символ –бык, его можно показать на картине…)

In 1600 R travelled to Italy. He saw paintings of Titian, Veronese and Tintoretto, they all tree influenced the artist greatly. Eventually the artist settled in Mantua at the court of duke Vincenzo Gonzaga and with financial support from the duke travelled to Rome and Florence, where he studied Greek and copied works of Italian masters. Especially Caravaggio. (Он даже уговорил герцjга купить неск работ К).
In 1603 Rubens travelled to Spain on a diplomatic mission, where he studied the extensive collection of Raphael and Titian collected by Philippe the second. After spending 8 years abroad the artist returned to Antwerp as he heard of his mother’s illness, but she passed away before. His return coincided with prosperity of the city.
In 1609 R was appointed as a court painter of the sovereigns of Netherland Альберт 7 и Ифанта Изабелла. He was ему разрешили and also to work for other clients He was called upon not only as a court painter but also as ambassador… On 1609 he married Isabella Brandt a daughter of a prominent Antwerp citizen. In 1610 R moved in his house and studio witch he designed. Where he and his apprentices made most of the paintings and where he kept his collect of art and library. Тогда и Ван Дейк начинает учиться у него. Among his numerous students was Antony Van Diek who collaborate frequently with Rubens. R collaborated with Franz Snyder’s and Jan Brueghel elder. His altar pieces (including “Descent from the cross” one of his early painting, version for later painting for the Cathedral of our Lady in Antwerp. Less spirituality. Jux opposition between death and life) soon made him Flanders leading painter.
“The fest in the house of Simon fariseus (=Pharisee)” Пир у Симона фарисея. According to many studies for this painting Van Dyke and Sneyders assisted him to this painting. Washed his feet. Sinner. He forgave her sins.
Travelling to Spain England he was Knighted, he was awarded honoree in Cambridge University

In Spain he was friend of Diego Velaskes. His international reputation was growing in this decade. He WROTE “The Union of Earth and water”. With this painting He expressed his hope that the lands of Flanders will again Flourish as soon they regain the excess to the sea/ He depict the goddess of Earth (Kibela) and Neptune. Река Шельда бал блокирована другими голландцами
At the same period he wrote portrait of (“In-waiting of Infanta Isobella”). The portrait is less typical for baroque style Портрет камеристки Инфанты Изабеллы. The look in her eyes… pale skin, thin lips… This gives amazing psychological portrait.
“Perseus and Andromeda” The Good triumphs over the Evil. Andromeda’s naked body considered as the best women naked body in history of art.

It looks warm soft. With contrast with cold and iron Perseus. Many details here.

“Bacchus” 1634-40. Nobody wanted to buy it. Ugly, Repulsive and attractive at the same time. The flash looks living. Другие изображали Бахуса юношей.
The last decade he spent mostly in Antwerp. In 1640 the 50 year old painter married 16 years old girl Елена Фурман), who often inspired voluptuous figures in his paintings.

R died from подагра and was buried in St Jacobs church.
Those he painted himself, Those with hi part, Those he only supervise

newly discovered 2002 was sold in Sothsby auction 48 000 000 фунтов. It is heist pries for masters