Jacob Gerritsz. Cuyp

Jacob Gerritsz. Cuyp (* in Dordrecht December 1594, † 1652 in Dordrecht ) was a Dutch painter of the 17th century. He received his first lessons in painting from his father Gerrit Gerritsz probably. Cuyp. 1617 he joined the Canons of St. Luke's Guild, which he repeatedly served as a bookkeeper. A year later, in 1618, Jacob van Aertken married Cooten from Utrecht. Their only child, Aelbert Cuyp was born in 1620.

Life

Already in 1617, Jacob received a significant order to portray the masters of the Dutch coin. It was followed by numerous portraits of influential personalities Dordrecht, entirely in clear, more sober style. Jacob was known mainly by its intense, finely wrought portraits of children, in which the figures are almost larger than life, presented in a mostly dark room or in front of a gerückten in the background landscape, usually with a toy or house - but also farm animals in the arm ( Puppy, geese, chickens).

To 1627 Jacobs style of painting became increasingly influenced by the so-called Utrecht Caravaggists whose works are influenced by the example of one of the most important Italian painter Michelangelo Caravaggio, by a distinct light and shadow effect ( light-dark painting, Italian Chiaroscuro ). Arnold Houbraken reports in its Schouwburgh Grote (Amsterdam 1718-1719, a not always reliable collection of Dutch painter biographies ) that Jacob had continued his painting studies with Abraham Bloemaert, one of the best known representatives of this particular style of Utrecht. This influence is particularly evident in Jacob's simple but dramatically lit half-length figures of the Apostles Peter and Paul ( Dordrecht Museum ) or the evangelist Luke (Karlsruhe, Staatliche Kunsthalle ). Most notable is probably the Caravaggesque composition of his " Two riders sitting at a table " ( St Petersburg, Hermitage ), in which Jacob also the smallest Still Life pays great attention to details. The Dordrecht area of the significant portraits of biblical and historical representations to various still life and landscape paintings, mainly of course: A total of his work appears to be quite versatile. The latter were especially highlighted in earlier biographies as particularly remarkable for Jacobs Art. In addition, Jacob did as a teacher, not only of his half brother Benjamin Gerritsz. Cuyp Aelbert and his son's name, but also further Dordrecht painters, such as Ferdinand Bol ( before it went to Rembrandt) or Paul Lesire.

Jacobs last signed and dated picture, a " boy with a glass of wine and a flute ", dates from the year 1652. During the same year his wife Aertken is listed in the records as a widow.

Swell

• Grove Dictionary of Art, Grove Art Online. Entry " Jacob ( Gerrritsz. ) Cuyp "