Cornelis Troost
Encyclopedia
Cornelis Troost was a Dutch
painter
from Amsterdam
, "by far the most original and versatile artist of his age", which was however the period following the Dutch Golden Age painting
of the previous century. Troost remains much less well-known, especially outside the Netherlands
, than the leading painters of the Golden Age.
and the booksellar and spy Louis Renard visiting a chic Amsterdam brothel. Then he had an early success with a lively group portrait depicting the Amsterdam Inspectors of the Collegium Medicum (Rijksmuseum
, Amsterdam, 1724). Troost painted several portraits, including one of Herman Boerhaave
, the famous doctor from Leiden. Troost is also known for his paintings of actors in famous roles as well as his witty and elegant Rococo
genre scenes. Troost was possibly influenced by William Hogarth
, and certainly by French artists such as Watteau, Boucher
and Lancret.
A famous work, in his favorite medium
of pastel
and watercolor
, is a five picture series entitled NELRI (Mauritshuis
, The Hague
, 1740). The name is derived from the first letters of the Latin inscriptions which accompany five views of the activities of a group of men during a night of reunion.
In his 1736 painting Jeronimus Tonneman and his Son Tonnemans is shown on right. Living on Keizersgracht, he was a collector of (his) paintings. It is assumed the book on the table is by Karel van Mander and on the chimneybreast Argus
and Mercury
can be seen. Troost lived nearby on the banks of the river Amstel
and at Prinsengracht.
Dutch people
The Dutch people are an ethnic group native to the Netherlands. They share a common culture and speak the Dutch language. Dutch people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in Suriname, Chile, Brazil, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and the United...
painter
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
from 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...
, "by far the most original and versatile artist of his age", which was however the period following the Dutch Golden Age painting
Dutch Golden Age painting
Dutch Golden Age painting is the painting of the Dutch Golden Age, a period in Dutch history generally spanning the 17th century, during and after the later part of the Eighty Years War for Dutch independence. The new Dutch Republic was the most prosperous nation in Europe, and led European trade,...
of the previous century. Troost remains much less well-known, especially outside the Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, than the leading painters of the Golden Age.
Painting career
Troost was trained as an actor but gave up his career in 1723. One of his earliest drawings is of Prince Eugene of SavoyPrince Eugene of Savoy
Prince Eugene of Savoy , was one of the most successful military commanders in modern European history, rising to the highest offices of state at the Imperial court in Vienna. Born in Paris to aristocratic Italian parents, Eugene grew up around the French court of King Louis XIV...
and the booksellar and spy Louis Renard visiting a chic Amsterdam brothel. Then he had an early success with a lively group portrait depicting the Amsterdam Inspectors of the Collegium Medicum (Rijksmuseum
Rijksmuseum
The Rijksmuseum Amsterdam or simply Rijksmuseum is a Dutch national museum in Amsterdam, located on the Museumplein. The museum is dedicated to arts, crafts, and history. It has a large collection of paintings from the Dutch Golden Age and a substantial collection of Asian art...
, Amsterdam, 1724). Troost painted several portraits, including one of Herman Boerhaave
Herman Boerhaave
Herman Boerhaave was a Dutch botanist, humanist and physician of European fame. He is regarded as the founder of clinical teaching and of the modern academic hospital. His main achievement was to demonstrate the relation of symptoms to lesions...
, the famous doctor from Leiden. Troost is also known for his paintings of actors in famous roles as well as his witty and elegant Rococo
Rococo
Rococo , also referred to as "Late Baroque", is an 18th-century style which developed as Baroque artists gave up their symmetry and became increasingly ornate, florid, and playful...
genre scenes. Troost was possibly influenced by William Hogarth
William Hogarth
William Hogarth was an English painter, printmaker, pictorial satirist, social critic and editorial cartoonist who has been credited with pioneering western sequential art. His work ranged from realistic portraiture to comic strip-like series of pictures called "modern moral subjects"...
, and certainly by French artists such as Watteau, Boucher
Boucher
Boucher may refer to:*Boucher , a family name *Boucher Institute of Naturopathic Medicine, a naturopathic medical college in Vancouver, BC*Boucher Manufacturing Company, an American toy company*R. v...
and Lancret.
A famous work, in his favorite medium
Media (arts)
In the arts, a media or medium is a material used by an artist or designer to create a work.-Architecture:In the art and science of architecture, the design and construction of buildings and interiors, infrastructure and other physical structures are created...
of pastel
Pastel
Pastel is an art medium in the form of a stick, consisting of pure powdered pigment and a binder. The pigments used in pastels are the same as those used to produce all colored art media, including oil paints; the binder is of a neutral hue and low saturation....
and watercolor
Watercolor painting
Watercolor or watercolour , also aquarelle from French, is a painting method. A watercolor is the medium or the resulting artwork in which the paints are made of pigments suspended in a water-soluble vehicle...
, is a five picture series entitled NELRI (Mauritshuis
Mauritshuis
The Royal Picture Gallery Mauritshuis is an art museum in The Hague, the Netherlands. Previously the residence of count John Maurice of Nassau, it now has a large art collection, including paintings by Dutch painters such as Johannes Vermeer, Rembrandt van Rijn, Jan Steen, Paulus Potter and Frans...
, The Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
, 1740). The name is derived from the first letters of the Latin inscriptions which accompany five views of the activities of a group of men during a night of reunion.
In his 1736 painting Jeronimus Tonneman and his Son Tonnemans is shown on right. Living on Keizersgracht, he was a collector of (his) paintings. It is assumed the book on the table is by Karel van Mander and on the chimneybreast Argus
ARGUS
ARGUS, all capitalized, may refer to:* ARGUS , a particle physics experiment that ran at DESY* ARGUS distribution, a function used in particle physics named after the above experiment...
and Mercury
Mercury (mythology)
Mercury was a messenger who wore winged sandals, and a god of trade, the son of Maia Maiestas and Jupiter in Roman mythology. His name is related to the Latin word merx , mercari , and merces...
can be seen. Troost lived nearby on the banks of the river Amstel
Amstel
The Amstel is a river in the Netherlands which runs through the city of Amsterdam. The river's name is derived from Aeme stelle, old Dutch for "area abounding with water"....
and at Prinsengracht.