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| Main Entrance of Rijksmuseum Photo by Dan L. Smith, 2015 |
The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam is one of the world's great museums, especially beloved for its art from the Dutch Golden Age.
- Rijksmuseum means State museum; this is the home of the national art collection of the Netherlands.
- Although the museum was founded in 1800, its current main building, which was specially built for the purpose, dates from 1885. In 2013, the Rijksmuseum reopened after a ten-year renovation.
- The renovation exposed the building's original interior decoration, which had been painted over when it deteriorated. A scholar led a team of artists in restoring their original beauty.
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The renovation also covered a courtyard, and turned it into a center for visitor services.
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---------------------Art of the the Dutch Golden Age-----------------
Hendrick Goltzius, 1558-1617
Goltzius was a German-born Dutch painter. His career pre-dates the Golden Age.
He is included here to show that painting had already reached a high degree of refinement before the Golden Age, and that painters of the Lowlands were familiar with the art of Renaissance Italy.
He is included here to show that painting had already reached a high degree of refinement before the Golden Age, and that painters of the Lowlands were familiar with the art of Renaissance Italy.
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| Hendrick Goltzius, 1558-1617 Lot and his Daughters, 1616 |
Frans Hals, c. 1582-1666
Frans Hals was one of the most influential painters of the Dutch Golden Age.
He is known for his portraits. He painted both serious likenesses to fill commissions, and imaginative Dutch character types.
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| Frans Hals, c. 1582-1666 Portrait of a Couple, c. 1622 |
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| Frans Hals, c. 1582-1666 c The Merry Drinker, 1630 |
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| Frans Hals, c. 1582-1666 Portrait of Maritge Claesdr Vooght, 1639 |
Hendrick ter Brugghen, c. 1588-1629
Ter Brugghen was one of a small group of painters based in Utrecht, in the Netherlands, who deliberately emulated the work of Caravaggio, a contemporary Italian painter. They particularly favored his naturalistic depiction of characters and his stagey lighting. Ter Brugghen, Honthorst, and others developed Caravaggio's aesthetics in a particularly Dutch manner.
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| Hendrick ter Brugghen, c. 1588-1629 Heraclitus, 1628 |
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| Hendrick ter Brugghen, c. 1588-1629 Democritus, 1628 |
Gerard van Honthorst, 1592-1656
Van Honthorst is sometimes called Gerrit van Honthorst.
Honthorst was a leading painter in the early phase of the Dutch Golden Age.
He was one of a small group of painters based in Utrecht, in the Netherlands, who deliberately emulated the work of Caravaggio, a contemporary Italian painter. They particularly favored his naturalistic depiction of characters and his stagey light. Honthort, ter Brugghen, and others developed Caravaggio's aesthetics in a particularly Dutch manner.
Honthorst was a leading painter in the early phase of the Dutch Golden Age.
He was one of a small group of painters based in Utrecht, in the Netherlands, who deliberately emulated the work of Caravaggio, a contemporary Italian painter. They particularly favored his naturalistic depiction of characters and his stagey light. Honthort, ter Brugghen, and others developed Caravaggio's aesthetics in a particularly Dutch manner.
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Gerard van Honthorst, 1592-1656
Christ Crowned with Thorns, c. 1622
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| Gerard van Honthorst, 1592-1656 The Merry Fiddler, 1623 |
Willem Claesz Heda, 1594-1680
There were two important still life painters with similar names and similar styles, who both came from Haarlem: Pieter Claesz and Willem Claesz Heda.
Willem's middle name is Claesz, but he has no family connection to Pieter.
Willem's middle name is Claesz, but he has no family connection to Pieter.
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| Willem Claesz Heda, 1594-1680 Still Life with a Gilt Cup, 1635 |
Pieter Claesz, c. 1597-1660
Pieter Claesz was an important painter of still lifes in based in Haarlem.
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| Pieter Claesz, c. 1597-1660 Still Life with a Turkey Pie, 1627 |
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| Pieter Claesz, c. 1597-1660 Vanitas Still Life with the Spinario, 1628 |
- The Spinario is the sculpture of a boy pulling a thorn out of his foot, which is a famous Roman sculpture. I believe the point is that arts and culture and even whole civilizations pass away.
Pieter Saenredam, 1597-1665
Saenredam was a Haarlem artist who specialized in architectural renderings.
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| Pieter Jansz Saenredam, 1597-1665 Interior of the Church of St. Bavo in Haarlem, 1636 |
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| Pieter Jansz Saenredam, 1597-1665 The Old Town Hall of Amsterdam, 1657 |
Anthony van Dyck, 1599-1641
Anthony van Dyck is actually Flemish, but he is part of the Netherlandish tradition which forms the foundation of Dutch Art.
His most famous works depict members of the British Royal family.
His most famous works depict members of the British Royal family.
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| Anthony van Dyck, 1599-1641 William II, Prince of Orange, and his Bride, Mary Stuart, 1641 |
Verspronck, c. 1600-1662
Verspronck was a Haarlem-based artist who was Frans Hals' major competitor. He filled commissions for both individual and group portraits. His style was very precise and refined.
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| Johannes Verspronck, c. 1600-1662 Portrait of a Girl Dressed in Blue, 1641 |
The following pair of portraits shows a husband and wife.
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| Verspronck, c. 1600-1662 Portrait of Eduard Wallis, 1652 |
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| Verspronck, c. 1600-1662 Portrait of Maria van Strijp, 1652 |
Rembrandt, 1606-1669
Rembrandt was the pre-eminent painter of the Baroque era in the Dutch Golden Age.
He was strongly influenced by the high-contrast lighting of Caravaggio.
Rembrandt's great innovation is his psychological insight, as shown both in portraits and in his interpretations of Bible stories.
Rembrandt is the major star of the Rijksmuseum, which has some of his most important works.
He was strongly influenced by the high-contrast lighting of Caravaggio.
Rembrandt's great innovation is his psychological insight, as shown both in portraits and in his interpretations of Bible stories.
Rembrandt is the major star of the Rijksmuseum, which has some of his most important works.
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| Rembrandt, 1606-1669 Young Woman in Fantasy Costume, 1633 |
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| Rembrandt, 1606-1669 Portrait of Johannes Wtenbogaert, 1633 |
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| Rembrandt, 1606-1669 Portrait of Haesje Jacobsdr van Cleyburg, 1634 |
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| Rembrandt, 1606-1669 Man in Oriental Dress, 1635 |
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| Rembrandt, 1606-1669 Landscape with a Stone Bridge, c. 1638 |
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| Rembrandt, 1606-1669 Portrait of a Woman, possibly Maria Trip, 1639 |
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| Rembrandt, 1606-1669 The Night Watch, Militia Company of District II, 1642 14 ft by 11 ft |
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| Rembrandt, 1606-1669 The Night Watch, Militia Company of District II, 1642 14 ft by 11 ft Internet |
- How this painting is unique compared to other militia paintings: Instead of 'posing', these guardsmen are all engaged in the same activity, mustering for duty at the town gate. Instead of uniforms, they wear their own clothes, and it is difficult to distinguish them from the townspeople. Instead of each guardsman getting a yearbook-type portrait, their faces are submerged in the composition as a whole. Instead of a horizontal row, the figures are arranged with depth and forward movement.
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| Detail of The Night Watch |
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| Rembrandt, 1606-1669 Self-portrait as the Apostle Paul, 1661 (age 55) |
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| Rembrandt, 1606-1669 The Syndics, The Sampling Officials of the Draper's Guild, 1662 |
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| Rembrandt, 1606-1669 Isaac and Rebecca, known as 'The Jewish Bride', c. 1669 |
Judith Leyster, 1609-1660
Judith was a successful artist in Haarlem despite the stiff competition and her short career.
She was very much influenced by the contrasty lighting of Caravaggio.
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| Judith Leyster, 1609-1660 The Serenade, 1629 |
David Teniers, a Flemish artist, was an important figure in the art of the Lowlands. His father, David Teniers the Elder, was also a painter, but he was not nearly as well known or prolific.
Teniers excelled at genre scenes with earthy details.
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| David Teniers, 1610-1690 Country Festival, c. 1665 |
Cuyp is best known for his landscapes, which generally feature cattle prominently.
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| Aelbert Cuyp, 1620-1691 River Landscape with Riders, 1657 |
Jan Steen, c. 1625-1679
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| Jan Steen, c. 1625-1679 Adolf and Catharina Croeser, known as ‘The Burgomaster of Delft and his Daughter’, 1655 |
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| Jan Steen, c. 1625-1679 The Baker Arent Oostwaard and his Wife, Catharina Keizerswaard, 1658 |
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| Jan Steen, c. 1625-1679 The Sick Woman, c. 1666 |
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| Jan Steen, c. 1625-1679 The Merry Family, 1668 |
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| Jan Steen, c. 1625-1679 Self-portrait, c. 1670 (age 45) |
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| Jan Steen, c. 1625-1679 Children Teaching a Cat to Dance, known as ‘The Dancing Lesson’, c. 1679 |
Jacob van Ruisdael, c. 1628-1682
Van Ruisdael was one of the most influential landscape painters of the era.
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| Jacob van Ruisdael, c. 1628-1682 Landscape with Waterfall, c. 1660-1670 |
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| Jacob van Ruisdael, c. 1628-1682 The Windmill at Wijk bij Duurstede, c. 1670 |
Pieter de Hooch, 1629-c.1683
De Hooch specialized in quiet domestic scenes with a strong emphasis on architecture.
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| Pieter de Hooch, 1629-c.1683 Figures in a Courtyard behind a House, 1665 |
Johannes Vermeer, 1632-1675
Only 34 paintings are firmly attributed to Vermeer. He was not very productive, and he was not widely known in his lifetime. He was re-discovered in the 19th century, and now, every work is considered a priceless treasure.
Vermeer is best known for his generic portraits of women engaged in activities near a window. His exterior scenes are few.
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| Johannes Vermeer, 1632-1675 View of Houses in Delft, known as ‘The Little Street’, c. 1658 |
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| Johannes Vermeer, 1632-1675 The Milkmaid, c. 1660 |
Take-aways from the Rijksmuseum:
The most important painters of the Dutch Golden Age were Frans Hals, Rembrandt, Vermeer, Jan Steen, and Judith Leyster.
Frans Hals specialized in portraits: individual portraits, group portraits, and fantasy characters.
Rembrandt also specialized in portraits, including individual portraits, group portraits, self-portraits and fantasy portraits. In addition he re-imagined many Biblical scenes in an intimate manner.
Vermeer is best known for his generic portraits of women engaged in activities near a window.
Jan Steen was the premier artist of genre scenes.
Judith Leyster was a successful woman painter during this period.
Still life, landscape, and architectural renderings were also popular during this period.
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