Jan Asselijn
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Jan Asselijn (c. 1610 - Oct 1 1652), Dutch painter, was born at Diemen or Dieppe and died in Amsterdam.
He received instruction from Esalas Vandevelde (1587-1630), and distinguished himself particularly in landscape and animal painting, though his historical works and battle pieces are also admired. He traveled much in France and Italy, and modeled his style greatly after Bamboccio (Pieter van Laer). He seems to have befriended Rembrandt.[1] Another Italianate landscape painter, Frederick de Moucheron, studied under him.[2]
He was one of the first Dutch painters who introduced a fresh and clear manner of painting landscapes in the style of Claude Lorraine, and his example was speedily followed by other artists. Asselijn's pictures were in high estimation at Amsterdam, and several of them are in the museums of that city. Twenty-four, painted in Italy, were engraved.
One of his paintings, The Threatened Swan, which portrays a swan aggressively defending its nest, became a symbol of national resistance, although it is unknown if Asselijn intended it to be so.[3] In particular, it was interpreted as a depiction of Johan de Witt.[4] Several inscriptions were added by later owners of the painting, including "Holland" on one of the eggs, and "Enemy of the state" next to the dog that is threatening the nest.[5] Some parts of the painting are less realistic than the swan, such as the low-hanging clouds, the dog and the flat-looking eggs.[5] The painting has been dated to the 1640s.[4] It is considered to be his most famous work.[1]
Willem Schellinks' City Wall in the Winter was long thought to be Asselijn's, until the painting was restored and the original monogram was revealed.[6]
Footnotes
- ^ a b Nash, J.M. (1972). The Age of Rembrandt and Vermeer. Holt, Rinehart and Winston. p. 241. ISBN 0-03-091870-7.
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ Haak, Bob (1984). The Golden Age. New York: Harry N. Abrams. p. 471. ISBN 0-8109-0956-1.
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ Clark, Kenneth (1977). Animals and Man. New York: Wiiliam Morrow and Company. p. 98. ISBN 0-688-03200-1.
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ a b Keyes, George S. (2004). Masters of Dutch Painting. The Detroit Institute of Arts. p. 114. ISBN 1904832040.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ a b "The Threatened Swan: Symbolism". Rijksmuseum Amsterdam. Retrieved 2009-01-12.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - ^ Haak (1984), p. 473.
References
- This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
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