16 Dutch Baroque Art Review

Overview Protestant Dutch Republic began a golden age of prosperity and artistic creativity Characterized by – Predominance of secular art such as Portraits Still lifes Lively genre scenes Landscapes – Continuation of some traditions Attention to detail Extreme realism Use of layers of oil paint to create luminous colors (glazing) New ideas about painting, including the use of loose brush strokes, a painterly technique not seen before, as well as the study of natural light and the rendering of fabrics in a very realistic way

Frans Hals: Archers of Saint Hadrian (1633) Oil on canvas Hals one of first to elevate genre painting to high art (Pieter Bruegel first to create genre scenes that appealed to patrons) Hals became famous for his unique group portraits – Combine both the portrait and genre traditions – Portray each of the sitter’s personality – Build on the Netherlandish painting tradition – Display pride each member felt at helping to win independence from Spain Hals was well-known for his loose brush strokes

Judith Leyster: Self-Portrait (1630) Oil on canvas One of only two female members of the painter’s guild Follower of Hals Combined traditions of portrait and genre scenes Used loose brush strokes Used to demonstrate her skill as an artist

Rembrandt van Rijn: The Anatomy Lesson of Dr Tulp (1632) Oil on canvas Early work Group portrait Uses strong lighting and chiarscuro to direct veiwer to the focal point and faces of the sitters Painting depicts advances in the science of anatomy

Rembrandt van Rijn: The Night Watch (1642) Oil on canvas Portrays Civic Guard on duty Unusual group portrait because the sitters are not sitting and they are careless with their weapons Scholars cannot agree on the meaning of the two girls included in the painting

Rembrandt van Rijn: Self-Portrait (1659) Oil on canvas Example of his unique style of painting, characterized by – The use of light to create drama and mood – High contrast reminiscent of Caravaggio’s work – Loose style of painting with evident brushstrokes Unidealized self-portrait

Jacob van Ruisdael: View of Haarlam from the Dunes at Overveen (1670) Oil on canvas Most popular Dutch landscape artist – known for his attention to detail Landscapes such as this portray Dutch pride in their land – land was reclaimed from the sea

Harmen Steenwyck: An Allegory of the Vanities of Human Life (1640) Oil on canvas Still lifes were popular – Dutch society placed an emphasis on the home and personal possessions – The beautiful dishes, exotic objects, and plentiful food depicted symbolized patron’s wealth – The ripe fruit, clocks, broken glasses, and extinguished lamps depcit the transcience of life Vanitas painting Books=human knowledge; musical instruments=pleasure of the senses Japanese sword and shell = patron’s wealth Chronometer = transcience of life skull = momento mori

Rachel Ruysch: Flowers in a Vase (1700) Oil on canvas Dutch flower painting – Was the most highly paid form of still life; it became popular all over Europe – Typically combined flowers from many countries – Appealed to the Dutch, who were well-known for the flower farms – Appealed to the wealthy, who often collected rare flower specimens for their gardens

Jan Steen: The Feast of Saint Nicholas ( ) Oil on canvas Lively genre scene Typical Steen painting depicts chaotic genre scene Family is celebrating Christmas and the children just received their gifts

Jan Vermeer: The Art of Painting ( ) Oil on canvas Realistic scene meant to be like a window into a real world – Shows he understood the rules of linear perspective – Demonstrates his extensive study of natural light – May have been created using a camera obscura Symbols include – His costume, which deliberately historic and connects him to the Netherlandish masters – Self-portrait at the easel, common of Dutch self-portraits – The map depicts final separation of the northern and southern provinces – Model personifies history (Clio) – Mask on table may represent his artistic training