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Famous Dutch Painters from Dordrecht, Ancient Capital of Holland

Part 4


9. Abraham van Calraet
10. Reynier Covijn

painters04

Note : Please do not email me with technical questions about paintings and their age and origin because I am not an expert but I only have gathered information about the Painters from the Netherlands and specially from Dordrecht.


Dordrecht is not only known as the oldest city and ancient capital of Holland but also for the many famous painters who were born or lived in Dordrecht during the late Middle ages and later centuries.

On the next pages you can find many works from these famous painters who were responsible for many styles of paintings and they immortalized the daily life and landscapes in the 15th to 19th century. Most of their masterpieces are nowadays part of collections in museums all over the world and of which many can be seen in the local Dordrechts Museum.


Abraham van Calraet
Dordrecht 1642 - Dordrecht 1722

Calraet or Kalraet, baptized on 12 October 1642 in Dordrecht, the eldest son of Pietsser Jansz. van Calraet (c. 1620-1681), a woodcarver and one of six artist brothers, of whom Barendt (1649-1737), and possibly Abraham himself, studied under Alaert Cuyp. He was first the pupil of the Huppe brothers Aemilius and Samuel, sculptors in Dordrecht, and subsequently practiced as a wood-carver and as a painter of still-life, stable scenes, landscapes with horses, and some portraits. In 160 he married in Dordrecht a daughter of the painter C. Bisschop. He was buried in Dordrecht on 12 June 1722.

According to Houbraken, Abraham was taught by the Dordrecht sculptors Huppe, although nothing is known of his activity as a sculptor. Houbraken lso stated that Abraham learnt to paint figures and fruit and that his brother Barendt van Calraet (1649-1737), who specialized at first in horse paintings but later imitated the Rhine landscapes of Herman Saftleven, was a pupil of Aelbert Cuyp.

The known signed works by Barendt confirm this. A painting of two horses in a stable, initialed APK (Rotterdam, Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen), indicates that Abraham, too, must have been well acquainted with Cuyp and provides the basis for identifying Abraham's painting style. A large number of landscapes with horses, paintings of livestock in stables and still-lifes, all initialed A.C. and formerly attributed to Aelbert Cuyp, are now generally considered to be the work of van Calraet, although many o these are in fact copies after him.


Calreat-Woodsy-scenery-with-animals-and-figures

Woodsy landscape with animals and horses

Abraham van Calraet panel 42,25 x 59,7 cm
Dordrechts Museum

Two equestrians, a man and a woman, driving by a woodsy environment shone on with the sun shines on the hills. The equestrians and their dogs overtake a farmer with cows and sheeps, while on the opposite side of the path a small party persons is looking.

Calraet derived not only motives from Aelbert Cuyp but also on other painters, under who the famous horse painter Philips Wouwerman (1619-1668).


Calraet-Landscape-with-equestrian-by-eveninglight

Landscape with equestian by evening light

Abraham van Calraet
panel 47,5 x 56,8 cm
Dordrechts museum

Because of the monogram A.C. on the right-hand corner of the painting it was for a long time also thought as a work of Aelbert Cuyp.


Calraet-Man-woman-and-child

Man, woman and child

Abraham van Calraet
panel 91,4 x 154,1 cm
Dordrechts museum

Man, woman and a kid on a table, whereupon lies cattle and vegetables.


Calraet-Two-oxen-at-farm

Two oxen on a farm

Abraham van Calreat
Oil on panel 39.5 x 55.5 cm
Rijksmuseum Amsterdam

On the foreground a couple of Doves rummage.


Calreat-Equestrian-fight

Landscape with fighting equestrians

Abraham van Calreat
Oil on panel 50 x 65.5 cm
Rijksmuseum Amsterdam

In a hill scenery at the bank of a river two quarelling groups equestrians met each other.


Calreat-Officers-and-townsfolk-at-encampment-outside-Breda

Officers and townsfolk at an encampment outside Breda

Abraham van Calraet, c. 1670/80
Oil on panel 50.7 x 52.9 cm
National Museum Paleis 't Loo, Apeldoorn

The scene probably depicts the Dutch encampment during the siege in 1637. As a comparison suggests with the picture of Stadtholder Frederik Hendrik on horseback outside Breda. This work was probably painted for the clientele who could hardly remember the Eighthy Years War.


Calreat-Still-life-with-Peaches-and-Grapes

Still-life with Peaches and Grapes

Abraham van Calreat c. 1680
Oil on canvas
Mauritshuis, The Hague

Abraham van Calraet was Aelbert Cuyp's principal seventeenth follower. Confusion between the two is compounded by the signature 'A.C.' found on van Calraet's views of Dordrecht, pictures f horsemen, and still-lifes. it is sometimes erroneously accepted as Aelbert Cuyp's own monogram.


Calreat-Interior-of-stable

The Interior of a Stable

Abraham van Calreat c.1690
Oil on Oak panel 39.3 x 57.3 cm
National Gallery London

Stable interiors of this type were painted by Calraet in imitation of pictures by Philips Wouwermans, such as 'The Interior of a Stable' also in the National Gallery's Collection. Trough the archway a family can be seen begging for alms. The surface of the picture is considerably worn so that the wood grain shows, notably in the sky.


Calreat-Scene-on-Ice-outside-Dordrecht

Scene on the Ice outside Dordrecht

Abraham van Calreat c. 1665
Oil on panel 33.5 x 57.5 cm
Dordrechts museum, borrowed from the
Natioal Gallery London

Dordrecht is seen here from the north, across the river Maas. In the left background is the Groothoofdspoort, a watergate which still survives, although it was altered in the late 17th century. To the right of it is the the Dordrecht Minster (Grote Kerk) which is unchanged today. Party because of the parallels between the city views in this picture and in works by Albaert Cuyp, the painting has in the past been attributed to him. This panel was part of a collection of paintings who were auctioned in 1785 and sold to England. In 2002 the painting came back to Dordrecht after 200 years and is since then borrowed from the National Gallery of London.


Calraet-Boy

A Boy holding a Grey Horse

Abraham van Calreat
Oak panel 36.2 x 32.4 cm
National Gallery London

This picture is attributed to Calraet because of its closeness in style to signed paintings by him. It does, however, bear a false Cuyp signature and in the past has been catalogued as his work. The horse in particular appears in pictures by both artists. It''s not unusual for paintings by Calraet to be mistaken for works by Cuyp. There are several versions of this subject, including one (London, Wallace Collection) which is also falsely signed as the work of Cuyp.


Calraet-Horse

A Brown and White Skewbald Horse with a Saddle beside it

Abraham van Calreat c.1680
Oil on Oak panel 34.2 x 44.4 cm
National Gallery London

Like many other works by the artist, this painting was once attributed to Aelbert Cuyp, but it is related to paintings which are now considered to be by Calraet, for example 'Stable Interior with Two Dapple-Grey Horses' (Rotterdam, Museum Boymans-van Beuningen). The horse appears, with variations, in the Rotterdam picture.


Calreat-Two-horsemen-at-tavern

Two Horsemen at a Tavern

Abraham van Calraet
Oil on oak panel 38.8 x 54.8 cm
Wallace collection, London

Inscription: 'A.cuyp' Originally bought as a work by Albaert Cuyp, but later recognized as a work by Calraet.


Calreat-Cattle-on-river-bank

Cattle on a River Bank

Abraham van Calraet
Oil on oak panel 34.3 x 53.8 cm
Wallace collection, London


Calreat-Halt-at-an-inn

Halt at an Inn

Abraham van Calraet
Oil on oak panel Image 38.7 x 58.7 cm
Wallace collection, London

Inscription: '.cuyp' Originally thought to be a work by Cuyp, but later recognised as a work by Calraet. Although there is still some doubt.


Calreat-Horse-tied-to-tree

Horses tied to a Tree

Abraham van Calreat
Oil on oak panel 45 x 54 cm
Wallace collection, London


Calreat-The-start

The Start

Abraham van Calraet
Oil on panel 32 x 47 cm
National gallery of Scotland

This painting is typical of Van Calraet’s work, particularly in the depiction of dogs and horses. It shows two riders and their dogs preparing to leave an inn and ‘start’ their journey. A wreath and a pewter wine jug hanging from the pole attached to the building indicate that this is an inn; the lady to the left wearing red is the inn-keeper. One man is mounted with his plumed hat and gloves on and clearly wishes to leave, while the other gestures to his companion to enjoy another glass (‘roemer’) of wine. Until the twentietssh century, this picture was thought to be by Aelbert Cuyp, as it emulates his work both in its composition and in its use of light.


Calraet-Huntsmen-on-horseback-with-tower-beyond

Huntsmen on horseback with a tower beyond; and Huntsmen on horseback in a landscape, a pair

Abraham van Calraet
Oil on copper 23.2 x 19.7 cm
Private collection


Calreat-Dordrecht-apple-market-and-old-harbor

Dordrecht with the Apple Market and the Oude Haven (Old Harbour)

Abraham van Calraet, before 1694
Oil o panel 66 x 102 cm
Private collection


Calreat-A-Horse-and-Cows-in-Landscape

A Horse and Cows in a Landscape

Abraham van Calraet
Oil on panel, 28 x 40 cm
Private collection

There is a false signature "A. cuyp" in the lower right corner of the painting.


Calraet-A-cockerel-and-hen

A cockerel and a hen

Abraham van Calraet
oil on panel 48.2 x 59.8 cm
Private collection


Calraet-An-evening-river-landscape-with-cowherd-and-cows

An evening river landscape with a cowherd and cows y the edge of a copse, a bridge and ruins beyond

Abraham Pietssersz. van Calraet
oil on canvas 71.7 x 97.4 cm
Private collection


Calraet-A-cavalry-skirmish

A cavalry skirmish

Abraham van Calraet
oil on canvas 135.9 x 161.9 cm
Private collection


Reynier Covyn

Antwerp 1631 - Dordrecht 1681

Reynier Covyn was born in Antwerp and moved to Dordrecht about 1650. His older brother was Israel Covyn who was a member of the Dortse Brotherhood of Fine-painters.

Covijn was a pupil of Nicolaes Maes and became a specialist in painting kitchen interiors.

 


Covyn-Interior-of-a-kitchen

Interior of a kitchen

Reynier Covyn
Oil on panel 36,3 x 41 cm

A kitchen girl pours a sauce over the fish in the scale standing on a stove. On the background we see a view to a room with a covered table. That motive is clearly derived from the perspective views of Nicolaes Maes.


 

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