June 17, 2003
17th-century Dutch paintings
This article (with linked radio discussion) is hardly news to art historians, but may be a surprise to nonspecialists:
"Traditionally we think of the Dutch art market of the 17th century as the market in which Rembrandt, Frans Hals, Johannes Vermeer and the like operated, catering for an upper-class clientele," Dr. [Marten Jan] Bok says, "But in fact the Dutch painters of the 17th century produced millions of paintings. We estimate somewhere between five and ten million and all these paintings were sold to – initially - a local market". . .Read the full text here.
Dr Bok confirms that by introducing new painting techniques, artists could increase their production considerably: "Previously, paintings were done in a very laborious way. Lots of colour, lots of layers of paint. But in the 1620s artists like Jan van Goyen and Jan Porcellis started to introduce less colourful paintings, usually done as we call it ‘wet on wet', not waiting for the previous layer of paint to dry before continuing. It was all done in one day, or even two paintings a day. Mind you, those paintings were beautiful. That's where Dutch artists created a revolutionary new style, which was recognised immediately throughout Europe as being different from what people were used to". . .Although art in 17th century Holland was also a matter of making money, it doesn't necessarily devalue the importance of the old masters, claims Bok: "I don't think it should diminish that. The achievement of the Dutch painters in the 17th century is twofold: on the one hand artistically, and that is still highly regarded throughout the world. On the other hand it was an economic achievement: they introduced new painting techniques and new marketing techniques as well. For example lotteries, raffles and auctions. The auctions we know today originate in the Dutch republic of the 17th century."
Posted by David on June 17, 2003 10:22 AM
David,
Thanks for pointing this out (I blathered on a bit about it on Ideofact). Did you find the article as odd as I did? To put it another way, would you question the merit of the works of painters who were employed, on commission, by the Catholic Church in the service of the Counter-Reformation? Why is it that Dutch painters, who catered to the bourgeois, were suspect, whereas Italian painters, who catered to an institution that was simultaneously running the Inquisition, don't raise an eyebrow?
Just curious...
Posted by: Bill Allison on June 21, 2003 12:27 AM
I should probably have made some remark on the article's pronounced slant, which may have as much to do with Dutch policy on government support for the arts (such as buying paintings from "artists" if private buyers don't want them) as with obsolete (but deeply entrenched) Romantic notions of artistic merit, in which being misunderstood, unpopular, idiosyncratic, and poor are de rigueur.
I am quite certain the writer-interviewer was responsible, rather than Marten Bok. Dutch art historians tend to be a clear-eyed bunch -- and as I noted in the original post, the commercial nature of Netherlandish painting is old, old news for specialists.
But as Bill Allison's Ideofact post notes, modern and contemporary attitudes to art have been thoroughly infected by the Romantic myth -- an infection as harmful to a balanced appreciation of the art of the past as of that of the present.
Posted by: David on June 21, 2003 1:35 PM
Am trying to find web info. on XVII century Dutch painter JAN LEDUCQ, but have been unable tofind a site. With your obvious knowledge of the subject might you be able to guide me? Would appreciate your help. Tks.
Posted by: George on July 4, 2003 11:08 PM
My folks had an old print that they purchased from a New York dealer called Frederick Keppel &Co. The lable says 17th Century School Seascape attributed to Van de Velde. Their lable says No. M963. Any ideas to find out more about the print?
Paul Goblet
Posted by: Paul Goblet on October 26, 2003 6:30 PM
i think we are all ignoring the importance of diagonal lines in the 17th century dutch works...any comments?
Posted by: Anonymous on October 29, 2003 12:41 PM
I am trying to find info on the following Dutch painters. J.de Herder, G.Otter and H.L.Verheijen. Have a painting of each of them. have been in the family for generations. thanks for any info.
Posted by: cora dallinga on January 16, 2004 2:54 PM
I have inherited an oil painting of Kasteel Rosendaal, painted by what appears to be "CJL de Breet, Arnhem". Anybody ever heard of this artist. I'd appreciate any info.
Posted by: Doug Kirk on July 12, 2006 8:21 AM
Reaction on question C.J.L. de Breet = Cornelis Johannes Louis de Breet, born in Arnhem 1870. They called him Louis de Breet en was a painter. Just look also on Louis de Breet. The castel's (kasteel) name is Rosendael (also a little village near Arnhem). If you find more information in dutch and I have to translate, wou'll welcome.
Greetings, Karel Rosendaal (Utrecht). k.rosendaal@wanadoo.nl www.everyoneweb.com/rosendaal
Posted by: Karel Rosendaal on March 1, 2008 4:47 AM
gmail.com