Aert van der Neer Facts for Kids

Moonlit Landscape with a View of the New Amstel River and Castle Kostverloren by Aert van der Neer (1647-49)

Aert van der Neer (around 1603 – 9 November 1677) was a famous landscape painter from the Dutch Golden Age. He was known for his special paintings of night scenes, often lit by moonlight or fires. He also painted many snowy winter landscapes, usually showing canals or rivers. He lived at the same time as other famous painters like Aelbert Cuyp and Meindert Hobbema. Like Hobbema, Aert van der Neer was not very well-known during his lifetime.

About Aert van der Neer
His Painting Career
Works
See also

About Aert van der Neer

Aert van der Neer was born in a town called Gorinchem. Some stories say he worked as a manager for important lords in Arkel. This might explain why we don't have any paintings from his early years.

He probably started painting as a hobby after meeting artists in Amsterdam. In 1629, he married Lysbeth, the sister of a painter named Joachim Govertsz Camphuysen. Aert and Lysbeth had six children together. Five of their children were baptized in a church near where they lived in Amsterdam.

Van der Neer found it hard to earn enough money just by selling his paintings. People at the time did not value his landscapes very much. In 1659, he tried to make more money by opening a wine shop. But two years later, his business failed. He died in Amsterdam, struggling financially. His art was not highly valued, with his paintings being worth very little after his death. His son, Eglon van der Neer, also became a painter, focusing on portraits.

His Painting Career

Winter Landscape with Skaters

Aert van der Neer started signing his paintings with his special monogram (A.V. and D.N. linked together). His earliest dated works are a winter landscape from 1639 and another from 1642. These early paintings were not his best. His art improved a lot with paintings like the Winter Landscape (1643) and the Moonlight Scene (1644).

In 1652, Van der Neer saw a big fire that destroyed the old town hall in Amsterdam. He painted this event in a few pictures. These paintings can now be seen in galleries in Berlin and Copenhagen. Even though he lived in Amsterdam, his paintings show that he knew the canals and woods around other Dutch cities. He also painted the big rivers like the Meuse and Rhine.

Sometimes, the city of Dordrecht, where Aelbert Cuyp lived, appears in his paintings. There is good evidence that Van der Neer and Cuyp were friends. They even worked on some of the same paintings together. On these artworks, you can see both their styles. For example, in some landscapes, Cuyp painted the figures or animals, while Van der Neer painted the main scene.

Moonlit Landscape with Bridge, one of Van der Neer's night scenes (1648-1650)

Both Cuyp and Van der Neer painted similar subjects, like rivers and landscapes. However, Cuyp was the more famous artist. Van der Neer often got help from Cuyp, who would add people and animals to Van der Neer's paintings when asked. This partnership shows that Van der Neer was sometimes in Dordrecht.

Van der Neer loved to paint the rivers and waterways of his home country. He often showed them at sunset or after dark. He was especially good at making objects look clear even in the darkness. He used different shades of warm brown and steel grey to create this effect. Another favorite subject of his was frozen water. He painted many winter scenes with people skating, playing golf, and fishing. He was skilled at making these scenes feel cold without looking too frosty.

His paintings are not rare, and many can be found today. While they are not as expensive as those by Cuyp or Hobbema, collectors still seek them out because they have a special charm. The best collection of his works can be found in the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg. In England, you can see his paintings at the National Gallery, London and the Wallace Collection.