Historical Artist - Pieter Aertson (1508 - 1575)
Pieter Aertsen was born in Amsterdam but spent most of his productive years in Antwerp. He was integral in the spread of genre and still-life painting, often putting religious undertones in his works. Aertsen’s two sons, Pieter and Aert, both became painters.
As a youth, he apprenticed with Allaert Claesz. He distinguished himself by painting domestic scenes in which he reproduced articles of furniture, cooking utensils, and so on, with marvellous fidelity. Later in life, he began documenting historical scenes. Several of his best works, including altarpieces in various churches, were destroyed in the Netherland's religious wars.
An excellent specimen of his style is a painting of the Crucifixion. Aertsen was a member of Antwerp's equivalent of the Academy of St Luke. In the official books of the Academy he is known as "Langhe Peter, schilder" (Long Peter, painter). Three of his sons are acclaimed painters, and his other pupils included Giovanni Stradano and Aertsen's nephew, Joachim Beuckelaer.
Contemporary Dutch Artists
Art Galleries in the Netherlands |
