Balthasar-Paul Ommeganck
Encyclopedia
Balthasar-Paul Ommeganck, a distinguished painter of landscapes and animals
, was born at Antwerp in 1755, and studied under Hendricus Josephus Antonissen from 1767. In 1789 he became dean of the Guild of St. Luke in his native city, and in 1796 professor in the Academy there. In 1799 he won the first prize for landscapes in Paris
, and in 1809 became a corresponding member of the Institute. He was also a member of the Academies of Amsterdam
, Brussels
, Ghent
, Munich
, and Vienna
. He died at Antwerp in 1826. He was one of the commissioners of 1815, appointed by Belgium to reclaim from France the objects of art which she had acquired by force of arms during the great war. During his life his works were in such request that only the rich could obtain them. And yet in handling they were soft, weak, and oversmooth, in conception confused, and in colour poor. It is in fact greatly to the example of Ommeganck that the poor work done by Belgian landscape and animal painters in the early part of the present century is to be traced, especially their shortcomings in tho matter of colour. Carpentero, J. F. Lenzen, and some of the more recent Belgian painters, have imitated his manner; a female painter, long resident in Holland and Belgium, has copied several of his pictures very successfully; and others in England
and elsewhere, under the auspices of the dealers, have made it a very profitable speculation. He executed some admired drawings, and also clay models of sheep and cows.
His sister was the painter Maria-Jacoba Ommeganck.
Animal painter
An animal painter is an artist who specializes in or is known for their skill in the portrayal of animals, essentially up to about 1900. During the last century "wildlife artist" became the preferred term for contemporary animal painters....
, was born at Antwerp in 1755, and studied under Hendricus Josephus Antonissen from 1767. In 1789 he became dean of the Guild of St. Luke in his native city, and in 1796 professor in the Academy there. In 1799 he won the first prize for landscapes in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, and in 1809 became a corresponding member of the Institute. He was also a member of the Academies of Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
, Brussels
Brussels
Brussels , officially the Brussels Region or Brussels-Capital Region , is the capital of Belgium and the de facto capital of the European Union...
, Ghent
Ghent
Ghent is a city and a municipality located in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is the capital and biggest city of the East Flanders province. The city started as a settlement at the confluence of the Rivers Scheldt and Lys and in the Middle Ages became one of the largest and richest cities of...
, Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, and Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
. He died at Antwerp in 1826. He was one of the commissioners of 1815, appointed by Belgium to reclaim from France the objects of art which she had acquired by force of arms during the great war. During his life his works were in such request that only the rich could obtain them. And yet in handling they were soft, weak, and oversmooth, in conception confused, and in colour poor. It is in fact greatly to the example of Ommeganck that the poor work done by Belgian landscape and animal painters in the early part of the present century is to be traced, especially their shortcomings in tho matter of colour. Carpentero, J. F. Lenzen, and some of the more recent Belgian painters, have imitated his manner; a female painter, long resident in Holland and Belgium, has copied several of his pictures very successfully; and others in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and elsewhere, under the auspices of the dealers, have made it a very profitable speculation. He executed some admired drawings, and also clay models of sheep and cows.
His sister was the painter Maria-Jacoba Ommeganck.