Nicolaes Pieterszoon Berchem facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nicolaes Berchem
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Portrait of Nicolaes Berchem by Jan Stolker
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| Born |
Nicolaes Pieterszoon Berchem
1 October 1620 |
| Died | 18 February 1683 |
| Movement | Dutch Golden Age Dutch Italianate |
| Spouse(s) | Catrijne Claesdr. de Groot |
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Nicolaes Pieterszoon Berchem (born October 1, 1620 – died February 18, 1683) was a very famous and busy Dutch Golden Age painter. He was known for painting beautiful outdoor scenes, often with people and animals. These scenes sometimes included characters from old stories or the Bible. He also painted pictures that told a story or showed everyday life.
Berchem was part of a group called "Dutch Italianate landscape" painters. These artists loved Italy. They either traveled there or dreamed of going. They wanted to capture the romantic feeling of the country. They brought back drawings of old ruins and peaceful countryside scenes.
Nicolaes Berchem created many artworks. People really wanted to buy his paintings. He made about 850 paintings, though some might be by other artists. He also created 80 etchings (a type of print) and 500 drawings. His landscapes were painted in an Italian style. They showed perfect country scenes with hills, mountains, cliffs, and trees, often at sunrise. Berchem was also good at adding people and animals to paintings by other artists.
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Who Was Nicolaes Berchem?
Nicolaes Berchem was born in Haarlem, a city in the Dutch Republic. He learned to paint from his father, Pieter Claesz. He also studied with several other famous painters. These included Jan van Goyen and Jan Baptist Weenix.
There's a fun story about how he got his name, Berchem. Some say it came from the words "Berg hem!" which means "Save him!" His friends in the workshop would shout this when his father came to scold him. Another story says it came from when he was almost forced to become a sailor. The person in charge knew him and let him go, saying "Save him!" Today, most people think his name comes from his father's hometown, Berchem in Antwerp.
It's believed that Berchem traveled to Italy between 1642 and 1645. He went with Jan Baptist Weenix, who he called his cousin. You can see his name signed as "CBerghem" or "Berchem" on his artworks.
Berchem's Life and Travels
In 1645, Berchem joined the Dutch reformed church. He got married the next year. Some stories say his wife was very careful with money. To buy his collection of art prints, he would borrow money from his students and friends. He would pay them back with money from paintings he sold without telling her.
Around 1650, he traveled to Westphalia with another painter, Jacob van Ruisdael. A painting from this trip shows a castle called Burg Bentheim. Berchem might have gone to Italy after this trip. He was not clearly recorded in the Netherlands between 1650 and 1656. Around 1660, he worked on designing an atlas for an engraver.
From 1661 to 1670, he lived in Amsterdam. In 1670, he moved back to Haarlem. But by 1677, he was living in Amsterdam again. He passed away there in 1683.
Berchem's Students
Nicolaes Berchem was a very popular teacher. Many young artists learned from him. Some of his famous students included Karel Dujardin and Pieter de Hooch. He also taught his own son, Nicolaes. His teaching helped many artists become successful.
His art also influenced later painters. For example, the French artist Jean-Baptiste Pillement was inspired by Berchem's works.
Images for kids
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A View of Burg Bentheim (1651) by Jacob van Ruisdael
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A View of Burg Bentheim (c. 1656) by Nicolaas Berchem
Gallery
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Milkmaids and Shepherds with their Flock at the Mouth of a Grotto, a Drover Watering his Cattle beyond, oil on canvas, 1665
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A Peasant Couple by a Tree with Cattle and Sheep, pen and brown ink, brown wash
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A Southern Harbour Scene, ca. 1657–1659
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A Moor Presenting a Parrot to a Lady, ca. 1655
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Landscape with Herdsmen Gathering Sticks, early 1650s
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"Winter Landscape", 1652 (photo by Caldesi & Montecchi, 1857)
