- Written by L.C.Geerts
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Famous Dutch Painters from Dordrecht, Ancient Capital of Holland
Part 1
1. Bartholomeus Assteyn
2. Cornelis Bisschop
3. Abraham Bisschop
4. Frans van den Blijk
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
Bartholomeus Assteyn
Dordrecht 1607 - Dordrecht 1677
Bartholomeus Assteyn was the son of a painter from Gent, Abraham Bartholomeusz. In 1631 he became, like his father, a member of the Sint Lucas-guild in Dordrecht. His last painting is dated 1669. Assteyn lived with his family in the Vriesestraat in Dordrecht. In 1677, the year of his dead, an inventory list was made of his belongings and the conclusion can be made that his family was not wealthy. Assteyn was a productive painter who produced many not expensive works.
Still life with flowers, shells and a path
Bartholomeus Assteyn,1631Oil on panel 43,3 x 34 cmDordrechts MuseumThe flowers are all realistic rendered though this combination of flowers are from different seasons (Roses and Tulips). The imperial crown in this still life is really the crown of this composition. This composition and the details are inspired on the work of Johannes Bosschaert.
Still-Life
Bartholomeus Assteyn,1635Oil on panel 56 x 41 cmPrivate collection
Grapes, peaches on a porcelain plate, with other fruit on a edge, and a large white and a tortoiseshell butterfly
Bartholomeus Assteyn, 1641Oil on Panel 59,6 x 84 cmPrivate collection
Still life with fruit and flowers in a basket
Bartholomeus Assteyn, 1629Oil on Panel 52.5 x 67.5 cmPrivate collection
Still Life of Flowers on a Stone Ledge
Bartholomeus AssteynOil on PanelPrivate collectionCornelis Bisschop
Dordrecht 1630 - Dordrecht 1674
Corneli Bisschop was a pupil of Ferdinand Bol in Amsterdam. In 1653 he returned to Dordrecht, and became an artist of international allure. In 1674 art biographer Arnold Houbraken mention Bisschop as painter at the royal court of Denmark. The French king Louis XIV was also a client of Bisschop.
Many of his paintings re inspired on the work of Nicolaes Maes, Ferdinand Bol and Rembrandt.
Self portrait
Cornelis Bisschop, 1668Oil on canvas 117 x 98,6 cmDordrechts MuseumOn this painting Bisschop enfolds a second painting, an aspect of the 17th century way of painting called 'net-echte' He enfolds a painted curtain in a painting.
Interior
Cornelis Bisschop, 1660Oil on panel 58,5 x 74,2 cmDordrechts MuseumIn this interior with a young boy by a cradle lies the domestic atmosphere of the 17th century.
Mercurius and Argus
Cornelis BisschopOil on canvas 99,4x 126,5 cmDordrechts MuseumBisschop was probably inspired by a sketch of Gerbrand van den Eeckhout, who, together witch Ferdiand Bol, was a pupil of Renbrandt. They probably med at home by Ferdinand Bol.
Allegory on the Raid on the Medway
Cornelis Bisschop, 1668Rijksmuseum, AmsterdamThe trip to Chatham in 1667, with a portrait of Cornelis de Witt.
Girl peeling an apple
Cornelis Bisschop, 1667Oil on panel 70x57 cmRijksmuseum Amsterdam
Bathsheba
Cornelis Bisschop, early 1660sOil on panel 39.4 x 33.7 cmThe Norton Simon museum, PasadenaOriginally thought to be by Nicolaes Maes, this painting is now generally attributed to Cornelis Bisschop. Like Maes, Bisschop was born in Dordrecht, and was a versatile practitioner of portraits, history and genre paintings, and it was especially this latter subject where the styles of the two artists intersect. But biblical paintings, such as this one depicting Bathsheba, are typical of Bisschop’s style that emanated from his teacher, Ferdinand Bol (1616–1680), especially seen here in the dramatically lit, smooth skin of her body. The picture tells the story from the second book of Samuel, chapter 11, when king David, standing atop his palace, sees the beautiful Bathsheba bathing at a fountain beyond, and sends a servant with a letter asking her to come to him.
A Young Woman and a Cavalier
Cornelis Bisschop probably early 1660sOil on canvas, 97.8 x 88.3 cmMetropolitan Museum of Art, New YorkThe picture is in good condition, although there are many small retouches over the entire surface. The glazes have been abraded in the red bodice of the woman especially, and to some extent in her face; the right contour of her head has been reinforced. The background is somewhat obscured by varnish.
A Young Man and a Girl playing Cards
Cornelis BisschopOil on canvas 123,5 x 104 cmNational Gallery, LondonThis painting was in England and attributed to Rembrandt as early as 1775. Subsequently it has been thought to be by Nicolas Maes, who was in Rembrandt's studio in the years around 1650. This is not, however, entirely persuasive and, more recently, the work has been attributed to another Dordrecht painter, Cornelis Bisschop (1630 - 1674), who knew Maes's work well and imitated it. However, no signed painting by Bisschop displays the broad handling which is so characteristic of this picture and this interesting attribution must, for the time being, remain speculative.
Old Woman Sleeping
Cornelis BisschopOil on canvasHamburger Kunsthalle, Hamburg, Germany
An infant bacchanal
Cornelis BisschopOil on canvas 83.8 x 65.5 cmPrivate collection
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Portrait of an old woman reading holding a pearl necklace
Cornelis Bisschop, 1650 - 1659Oil on Canvas 45.1 x 100 cmPrivate collectionAbraham Bisschop
Dordrecht 1670 - Middelburg 1731
Abraham Bisschop was the youngest son of Cornelis Bisschop (1630-1674), his father died 3 years later. In c. 1700 he moved to Middelburg. He became a painter of scenes with several types of fowls.
A pair of mute swans in a pond beneath a balustrade, pair
Abraham Bisschop, 1722Oil on canvas 141 x 123 cPrivate collectionA mute swan preening itself on the edge of a pond, whilst its companion regards a kingfisher perched on a bough.
Peacocks and other fowl in a garden with a stone urn on a pedestal
Abraham Bisschop, 1706Oil on canvas 158.8 x 146.1 cmPrivate collection
Allegories of autumn and summer, A pair
Abraham Bisschop, 1722Oil on canvas 161 x 236 cmPrivate collection
A peacock, poultry and a magpie in a landscape
Abraham Bisschop, 1720Oil on canvas 89.2 x 92.4 cmPrivate collection
A Peacock on a fallen Vase by a marble female Bust beside a stone Fountain, with a Turkey, Poultry and Sunflowers in a mountainous Landscape
Abraham Bisschop, 1722Oil on canvas 228 x 169.9 cmPrivate collectionFrans van den Blijk
Dordrecht 1806 - Dordrecht 1876
Van der Blijk was born in an artistic family His father, Raphal, was an active art-collector and respected expert. Frans had frequently contacts with the Dordrechtsche artists such as J.C. Schotel and Abraham van Strij. On the age of fifteen Frans proved to be a talented artist and was accepted as a member of the Dordrecht drawing societssy Pictura. He became a pupil of J.C. Schotel. Together with other pupils and his master they made a journey along the coast of Holland in 1828. The next year they travelled to Flanders and France. In 1830 Frans joined exhibitions of paintings from living masters in Amsterdam en The Hague.
In 1830 his career was intermittent during the Belgium war of independence and he took part with the Dordrecht civic guard to restrain the insurrection in the 'ten days campaign'. During this campaign he made an aquarelle showing the transport of soldiers by ship. In 1832 he continues his career as painter.
River view
Frans van den Blijk, ca. 1847Oil on canvas 106,5 x 167,5 cmDordrechts Museum
A still water
Frans van den Blijk, ca. 1848Oil on panel 73,7 x 94,1 cmDordrechts MuseumEven as his master J.C. Schotel he mostly painted sea and river views with color nuances in the sky parts of his paintings.
Sail ship with pilot boat on full sea
Frans van den BlijkOil on panel 27,4 x 36,8 cmMuseum Kröller-Müller museum, OtterloDordts painter, apprentice of the marine painter J. C. Schotel, also from Dordrecht. Painted harbor, river and sea views, mostly with sail ship. He oriented chiefly and around Dordrecht, but made also trips along the coast of Flanders and France.
Moored trawers in forth Rammekes (Westerschelde)
Frans van den BlijkOil on panel 27,7 x 36,9 cmMuseum Boymans van Beuningen, RotterdamDordts painter, apprentice of the marine painter J. C. Schotel, also from Dordrecht. Painted harbor, river and sea views, mostly with sail ship. He oriented chiefly and around Dordrecht, but made also trips along the coast of Flanders and France.
Shipping in the Harbour at Calais
Frans van den BlijkPencil, pen and grey and brown ink, grey and brown wash, grey ink framing lines 27 x 39,4 cmPrivate collection