Jan Baptist Weenix
Encyclopedia
Jan Baptist Weenix a painter of the Dutch Golden Age
. Despite his relatively brief career, he was a very productive and versatile painter. His favourite subjects were Italian landscapes with large figures among ruins, seaside views, and, later in life, large still life
pictures of dead game or dogs. He was mainly responsible for introducing the Italian harbour scene into Dutch art, in mid-size paintings with a group of figures in the foreground.
Weenix was born near Amsterdam's harbour, the son of an architect
. He could not speak well, apparently from a medical condition, and because he very much liked to read books, his mother sent him to work for a bookseller, who was not able to deal with him. He drew whenever he could, according to Jan Weenix
his son, who told the story to Arnold Houbraken
.
Weenix first studied under Jan Micker, who was the brother-in-law of his oldest sister Lysbeth. He then studied in Utrecht
under Abraham Bloemaert
, and later back in Amsterdam under Claes Cornelisz. Moeyaert. In 1639 he married Josijntje d'Hondecoeter. In 1643 Weenix travelled to Rome
with Nicolaes Pieterszoon Berchem
, who had also studied with Moeyaert. He had left his home secretly, but his wife, the daughter of Gillis d'Hondecoeter
, traced him to Rotterdam
. Then he was allowed to stay away for four months. In Rome he became a member of the Bentvueghels
and was much esteemed and worked for Pope Innocent X
. He returned to Amsterdam after four years; his wife had refused to come to Rome.
In 1649 he became master of the guild of St. Luke in Utrecht and also painted a portrait of René Descartes
. When his brother-in-law Gijsbert d'Hondecoeter
died, he trained his nephew Melchior d'Hondecoeter
, together with his own son Jan Weenix
. Weenix moved to a castle at Vleuten
outside Utrecht, to concentrate on his work or for health reasons, where he probably died in poor circumstances, at an unknown date.
He painted a few religious scenes, one of the rare pieces of this kind being the "Jacob and Esau" (Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister
, Dresden
). In the National Gallery, London
, is a "Hunting Scene" by Weenix, and Glasgow has a characteristic painting of ruins. Weenix is represented at most of the important continental galleries, notably at Munich, Vienna, Berlin, Amsterdam, and St Petersburg.
Dutch Golden Age
The Golden Age was a period in Dutch history, roughly spanning the 17th century, in which Dutch trade, science, military and art were among the most acclaimed in the world. The first half is characterised by the Eighty Years' War till 1648...
. Despite his relatively brief career, he was a very productive and versatile painter. His favourite subjects were Italian landscapes with large figures among ruins, seaside views, and, later in life, large still life
Still life
A still life is a work of art depicting mostly inanimate subject matter, typically commonplace objects which may be either natural or man-made...
pictures of dead game or dogs. He was mainly responsible for introducing the Italian harbour scene into Dutch art, in mid-size paintings with a group of figures in the foreground.
Weenix was born near Amsterdam's harbour, the son of an architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
. He could not speak well, apparently from a medical condition, and because he very much liked to read books, his mother sent him to work for a bookseller, who was not able to deal with him. He drew whenever he could, according to Jan Weenix
Jan Weenix
Jan Weenix or Joannis Wenix was a Dutch painter. He was trained by his father, Jan Baptist Weenix, together with his cousin Melchior d'Hondecoeter. Like his father, he devoted himself to a variety of subjects, but his fame is chiefly due to his paintings of dead game and of hunting scenes...
his son, who told the story to Arnold Houbraken
Arnold Houbraken
Arnold Houbraken was a Dutch painter and writer from Dordrecht, now remembered mainly as a biographer of artists from the Dutch Golden Age. He had ten children. His son Jacobus Houbraken was an engraver of portraits and book illustrations, including books by his father...
.
Weenix first studied under Jan Micker, who was the brother-in-law of his oldest sister Lysbeth. He then studied in Utrecht
Utrecht (city)
Utrecht city and municipality is the capital and most populous city of the Dutch province of Utrecht. It is located in the eastern corner of the Randstad conurbation, and is the fourth largest city of the Netherlands with a population of 312,634 on 1 Jan 2011.Utrecht's ancient city centre features...
under Abraham Bloemaert
Abraham Bloemaert
Abraham Bloemaert was a Dutch painter and printmaker in etching and engraving. He was one of the "Haarlem Mannerists" from about 1585, but in the new century altered his style to fit new Baroque trends...
, and later back in Amsterdam under Claes Cornelisz. Moeyaert. In 1639 he married Josijntje d'Hondecoeter. In 1643 Weenix travelled to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
with Nicolaes Pieterszoon Berchem
Nicolaes Pieterszoon Berchem
Nicolaes Pieterszoon Berchem was a highly esteemed and prolific Dutch Golden Age painter of pastoral landscapes, populated with mythological or biblical figures, but also of a number of allegories and genre pieces....
, who had also studied with Moeyaert. He had left his home secretly, but his wife, the daughter of Gillis d'Hondecoeter
Gillis d'Hondecoeter
Gillis Claesz. de Hondecoeter or d'Hondecoeter was a Dutch painter, working in a Flemish style, painting landscapes, trees, fowl and birds. Later on d'Hondecoeter painted in a more Dutch, realistic style...
, traced him to Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
. Then he was allowed to stay away for four months. In Rome he became a member of the Bentvueghels
Bentvueghels
The Bentvueghels were a society of mostly Dutch and Flemish artists active in Rome from about 1620 to 1720. They are also known as the Schildersbent .-Activities:...
and was much esteemed and worked for Pope Innocent X
Pope Innocent X
Pope Innocent X , born Giovanni Battista Pamphilj , was Pope from 1644 to 1655. Born in Rome of a family from Gubbio in Umbria who had come to Rome during the pontificate of Pope Innocent IX, he graduated from the Collegio Romano and followed a conventional cursus honorum, following his uncle...
. He returned to Amsterdam after four years; his wife had refused to come to Rome.
In 1649 he became master of the guild of St. Luke in Utrecht and also painted a portrait of René Descartes
René Descartes
René Descartes ; was a French philosopher and writer who spent most of his adult life in the Dutch Republic. He has been dubbed the 'Father of Modern Philosophy', and much subsequent Western philosophy is a response to his writings, which are studied closely to this day...
. When his brother-in-law Gijsbert d'Hondecoeter
Gijsbert d'Hondecoeter
Gijsbert d'Hondecoeter , was a Dutch landscape and animalier painter. -Biography:Hondecoeter belonged to a family of painters. His father was Gillis d'Hondecoeter and his son was Melchior d'Hondecoeter. Hondecoeter primarily painted works of barnyard fowl. Some of his works can be found at the...
died, he trained his nephew Melchior d'Hondecoeter
Melchior d'Hondecoeter
Melchior d'Hondecoeter , Dutch animalier painter, was born in Utrecht and died in Amsterdam. After the start of his career, he painted virtually exclusively bird subjects, usually exotic or game, in park-like landscapes...
, together with his own son Jan Weenix
Jan Weenix
Jan Weenix or Joannis Wenix was a Dutch painter. He was trained by his father, Jan Baptist Weenix, together with his cousin Melchior d'Hondecoeter. Like his father, he devoted himself to a variety of subjects, but his fame is chiefly due to his paintings of dead game and of hunting scenes...
. Weenix moved to a castle at Vleuten
Vleuten
Vleuten is a former village in the Dutch province of Utrecht. It is a part of the city of Utrecht, and lies about 6 km west of it. In 2001, it became together with De Meern, a city part of Utrecht called Vleuten-De Meern. Vleuten has a railway station on the line between Utrecht and Woerden.In...
outside Utrecht, to concentrate on his work or for health reasons, where he probably died in poor circumstances, at an unknown date.
He painted a few religious scenes, one of the rare pieces of this kind being the "Jacob and Esau" (Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister
Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister
The Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister in Dresden features major works of art. It is located in the gallery wing of the Zwinger....
, Dresden
Dresden
Dresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. The Dresden conurbation is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area....
). In the National Gallery, London
National Gallery, London
The National Gallery is an art museum on Trafalgar Square, London, United Kingdom. Founded in 1824, it houses a collection of over 2,300 paintings dating from the mid-13th century to 1900. The gallery is an exempt charity, and a non-departmental public body of the Department for Culture, Media...
, is a "Hunting Scene" by Weenix, and Glasgow has a characteristic painting of ruins. Weenix is represented at most of the important continental galleries, notably at Munich, Vienna, Berlin, Amsterdam, and St Petersburg.
Literature
- Anke A. Van Wagenberg-Ter Hoeven (Curator, Academy Art Museum, Easton, MD, USA), "Jan Baptist Weenix. Portrait of the De Kempenaer Family (the Margaretha Portrait)," in Golden: Dutch and Flemish Masterworks from the Rose-Marie and Eijk van Otterloo Collection, Catalogue by Frits Duparc, Yale University Press, 2011, exhibition at Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, MA, February 26 - June 19, 2011 [forthcoming]
- Anke A. Van Wagenberg-Ter Hoeven (Curator, Academy Art Museum, Easton, MD, USA), “Jan Weenix and Bensberg Castle –Eearly Eighteenth-Century Decorative Painting.” Submitted to Eighteenth-Century Studies, October 2010. This article was partly presented at the “Conference American Society for Eighteenth Century Studies), Richmond, VA, March, 2009
- Anke A. Van Wagenberg-Ter Hoeven (Curator, Academy Art Museum, Easton, MD, USA), Jan Weenix, “A Shepherd and Shepherdess with goats and sheep in an Italianate landscape,” in A World of Art in Painting and Sculpture. A Choice Selection 2009-2010. Douwes Fine Art. Amsterdam, London 2010
- Anke A. Van Wagenberg-Ter Hoeven (Curator, Academy Art Museum, Easton, MD, USA), “Jan Weenix. Boy with Toys, Pet Monkey and a Turkey by Jan Weenix,” Kresge Art Museum Bulletin, Edited by Susan J. Bandes and April Kingsley. Michigan State University, East Lansing, vol. IX (2009), pp. 82 color plate 12, p. 99