Painters of Gorinchem in the 17th century
In the 17th century
Gorinchem was a well-known place for trade and garrison, established at the crossroads of the regions of Holland, Gelderland and Brabant. Local farming produce was traded at the markets in Gorcum. As a transit route to the South, Brussels and Paris, and the East, the German states, Gorcum was important as well. Furthermore, the river Merwede was a busy route, which you can see in one of the paintings by Jan van Goyen from 1650. Just like in the other cities of the Dutch Republic where trade and industry were flourishing, in Gorcum a climate developed from which great painters could spring. Not only were famous artists born in Gorcum who later settled in a different city, such as Abraham Bloemaert, Jan van der Heyden and Cornelis Saftleven, many painters such as Aert van der Neer, Gerard van Kuijl and Jacob van der Ulft, were not only born in Gorcum but also worked there for a long time.
Artists from Gorcum
It is remarkable to see that the artists from Gorcum made paintings that fit the historical European art development of the time well, such as the Caravaggism of Gerard van Kuijl and van Abraham Bloemaert, the Italianism of Hendrick Verschuring and van Jacob van der Ulft and the Classicism of Jan van der Heyden.
An overview of the most famous artists is given here, to get a better idea of the painters of Gorcum and their work. The Schilderslexicon (painter’s lexicon) of Mr. P. Groenendijk from Utrecht is used for the texts.
Most famous painters from Gorcum and their work
Click on the name for more information and a larger image.
 Abraham Bloemaert: De aanbidding van de herders (The adoration of the shepherds) |
Abraham Bloemaert |
 Govert Dircksz Camphuysen: Vee bij boerderij (Cattle at a farm) |
The Camphuysen Family |
 Nicolaes van Haeften: Family |
Nicolaes van Haeften: |
 Jan van der Heyden: Stadhuis op de Dam (City Hall and the Dam) |
Jan van der Heyden |
 Gerard van Kuijl: Slimheid gaat boven kracht (Cleverness beats strength) |
Gerard van Kuijl |
 Jan Meerhout: Gezicht op Schelluinen (View on Schelluinen) |
Jan Meerhout |
 Aert van der Neer: IJsgezicht (Winter Scene) |
Aert van der Neer
|
 Jan Olis: Portrait of a young man with a baret (Portrait van een jonge man met een baret) |
Jan Olis |
 Cornelis Saftleven: Duet (Duet) |
Cornelis Saftleven |
Jacob van der Ulft |
|
 Hendrick Verschuring: Een ruiter bij een bedelares (The Morning Ride) |
Hendrick Verschuring
|
 Anthonie Verstraelen: IJsgezicht (Winter Scene) |
Anthonie Verstraelen |
 Mattheus Wijtmans: Children on a terrace at a country house |
Mattheus Wijtmans ’s Hertogenbosch, 1638 - Utrecht, 1689 |
Other painters:
A few painters who were born and who worked in Gorinchem have not become very well known, like Jan Rugerszoon van Niwael. One can hardly find any paintings by him in Dutch museums, except in the Centraal Museum in Utrecht. There hangs a painting, oil on panel, which is signed and dated 1646 and has the title ‘Vanitas’. Van Niwael was born in Gorinchem around 1595 and died around 1647. A few painters who were born and who worked in Gorinchem have not become very well known, like Jan Rugerszoon van Niwael. One can hardly find any paintings by him in Dutch museums, except in the Centraal Museum in Utrecht. There hangs a painting, oil on panel, which is signed and dated 1646 and has the title ‘Vanitas’. Van Niwael was born in Gorinchem around 1595 and died around 1647.
In Dutch museums, there are also very few paintings to be found from Mattheus Wijtmans, born in Gorinchem in 1650. He mainly painted still lifes and portraits. Wijtmans was a student of Hendrick Verschuring and Jan Bijlert amongst others. He died in Utrecht in 1689.
Jan van Dalen was born in Gorinchem around 1611. He painted landscapes as well as portraits, city and family arms, and still lifes. Van Dalen almost certainly lived in Gorinchem from 1643 until his death in around 1677. Whether there are any paintings of Van Dalen in Dutch museums is unknown.
The literature mentions several other painters who were born in Gorinchem, like Dirk Govertszoon van Heel en Jan Marienhof. However, there is not much known about their paintings, and therefore we will not pay any further attention to these artists. About Johan Haensbergen it is said that he too was born in Gorinchem. Further investigation is necessary to confirm this.