Jan de Beijer
Encyclopedia
Jan de Beijer also given as Jan de Beyer, was a Dutch
draughtsman and painter known for this drawings of towns and buildings in the present-day countries of the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. In total, he produced some 1500 drawings, over 600 of which were reproduced as engraving
s by other artists.
De Beijer travelled through the Netherlands in summertime to draw views of cities and towns as well as castles and other buildings. In the wintertime, he would retire to his home to produce colour drawings based on his sketches in the field, as well as drawings that could be used by other artists to produce engravings.
Drawings by Jan de Beijer and engravings based on his work can be found in numerous museums, archives, and private collections. In Amsterdam, the Joods Historisch Museum
has a 1765 drawing of the Grote Synagoge and Nieuwe Synagoge, two of the synagogues making up the complex that now houses the museum. Also, the Amsterdam Museum has a drawing of the now-demolished tower Haringpakkerstoren.
In 1999, the Historisch Museum Arnhem in Arnhem
devoted an exhibition to work by Jan de Beijer.
Around 1722 he moved to Amsterdam to study with Cornelis Pronk
, who was considered the most important topographical draughtsman of his time. De Beijer lived for some years in Vierlingsbeek
, near Boxmeer
. Sometime after 1750 he returned to Amsterdam, where he received further instruction from Jan Maurits Quinkhard
who, like Pronk, had been a pupil of Arnold Boonen
. In Amsterdam, he founded a draughtsmen's society. He was active as an artist until 1769 and then retired to a small town near Kleve
on the Dutch-German border, where he died. According to some sources he died on 15 February 1780 in Emmerich, although Doesburg
is also mentioned as his place of death.
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...
draughtsman and painter known for this drawings of towns and buildings in the present-day countries of the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany. In total, he produced some 1500 drawings, over 600 of which were reproduced as engraving
Engraving
Engraving is the practice of incising a design on to a hard, usually flat surface, by cutting grooves into it. The result may be a decorated object in itself, as when silver, gold, steel, or glass are engraved, or may provide an intaglio printing plate, of copper or another metal, for printing...
s by other artists.
De Beijer travelled through the Netherlands in summertime to draw views of cities and towns as well as castles and other buildings. In the wintertime, he would retire to his home to produce colour drawings based on his sketches in the field, as well as drawings that could be used by other artists to produce engravings.
Drawings by Jan de Beijer and engravings based on his work can be found in numerous museums, archives, and private collections. In Amsterdam, the Joods Historisch Museum
Joods Historisch Museum
The Joods Historisch Museum is a museum in Amsterdam dedicated to Jewish history, culture and religion, in the Netherlands and worldwide. It is the only museum in the Netherlands dedicated to Jewish history...
has a 1765 drawing of the Grote Synagoge and Nieuwe Synagoge, two of the synagogues making up the complex that now houses the museum. Also, the Amsterdam Museum has a drawing of the now-demolished tower Haringpakkerstoren.
In 1999, the Historisch Museum Arnhem in Arnhem
Arnhem
Arnhem is a city and municipality, situated in the eastern part of the Netherlands. It is the capital of the province of Gelderland and located near the river Nederrijn as well as near the St. Jansbeek, which was the source of the city's development. Arnhem has 146,095 residents as one of the...
devoted an exhibition to work by Jan de Beijer.
Life
Jan de Beijer was born in Switzerland to Johan Jacob de Beijer (1654–1719) and his wife Maria Barbara Huisch. His father was a Dutch officer who was in Switzerland to hire mercenaries for the army of the Dutch Republic. At the age of six, he moved with his parents to Emmerich on the Dutch-German border.Around 1722 he moved to Amsterdam to study with Cornelis Pronk
Cornelis Pronk
Cornelis Pronk , also known as Cornelis Pronck, was a Dutch draughtsman, painter and porcelain designer...
, who was considered the most important topographical draughtsman of his time. De Beijer lived for some years in Vierlingsbeek
Vierlingsbeek
Vierlingsbeek is a village in the municipality of Boxmeer in North Brabant province of the Netherlands. Until it was included in Boxmeer in 1998, it also was a municipality of its own.The UN/LOCODE is NLVIE....
, near Boxmeer
Boxmeer
Boxmeer is a municipality and a town in the southern Netherlands. It incorporates the former municipality of Beugen en Rijkevoort and that of Vierlingsbeek.- Population centres :...
. Sometime after 1750 he returned to Amsterdam, where he received further instruction from Jan Maurits Quinkhard
Jan Maurits Quinkhard
Jan Maurits Quinkhard was an 18th-century painter and print designer from the Northern Netherlands.-Biography:...
who, like Pronk, had been a pupil of Arnold Boonen
Arnold Boonen
Arnold Boonen , an eminent portrait painter, was born at Dordrecht, in the Dutch Republic in 1669. He was first a scholar of Arnold Verbius, and was later instructed by Godefried Schalken...
. In Amsterdam, he founded a draughtsmen's society. He was active as an artist until 1769 and then retired to a small town near Kleve
Kleve
Kleve , is a town in the Lower Rhine region of northwestern Germany near the Dutch border and the River Rhine. From the 11th century onwards, Kleve was capital of a county and later a duchy...
on the Dutch-German border, where he died. According to some sources he died on 15 February 1780 in Emmerich, although Doesburg
Doesburg
Doesburg Doesburg Doesburg (Dutch is a municipality and a city in the eastern Netherlands in the province of Gelderland. Doesburg received city rights in 1237 and currently has 11,602 inhabitants (1 January 2007, source: CBS). The city is situated on the right bank of river IJssel, at the...
is also mentioned as his place of death.