Abraham Storck

Abraham Storck (* April 1644 in Amsterdam, † April 1708 ) was an important Dutch marine painters in the 17th century. Especially his works in relation to Tsar Peter I visit in Amsterdam are of importance.

Life

His exact birth and death dates are not known. Only his baptism on 17 April 1644 the Amsterdam Noorderkerk and his funeral on April 8, 1708 the Sint Anthoniskerkhof in Amsterdam are documented.

His parents were originally from Wesel Jan Jansen Sturck, fine artist, and Teuntje Jacobs from Amsterdam. In the documents to father Jan had called both Sturck and Sturckenburch. They had two more sons besides Abraham: John, baptized 1629 and Jacob, baptized in 1641, little is known about the latter. . But he must have already died in 1688. The eldest son married in 1668 Eytje Bronckhorst and so was brother of the Marine painter Jan Abrahamszoon Beerstraten. Not only because the connections between the families Storck and Beerstraten were close.

Abraham mentioned in documents also Sturckenburgh, was still living in 1663 in his parents' house. In 1688 he is known in the St. Lucas guild as a member. On November 14, 1694, he married Neeltje Pieters van Meyservelt that already brings children from a previous marriage. Travel to Italy can not be detected.

Work

From the immense number of posthumous works can be the focus on the find Italian or southern vistas, sea battles, whaling and Peter the Great in Holland. It is difficult to distinguish between the work of the brothers. It is therefore thought that the most gifted, Abraham, led the workshop and the work to be sold signed.

For the representations of his Italian ports and building models can be found in contemporary prints. Even with this theme can make a connection to Beerstraten, who also " Italian " vedutas painted. In addition to the views Italianate harbor views and navigation scenes are generally south or assigned to the Mediterranean. It is striking that in addition to regional vessel types also often large Dutch ships determine the image content and composition. This operation of the image composition is also found in Dutch views again.

The presentation of the four-day battle is the most famous work of his oeuvre as well for this event. In the number of plants, it is the smallest theme in his work. In addition to the four-day battle with several works are known only to the individual naval battle of Texel in 1673 and La Hougue in 1693.

At the end of the 17th century, the whaling voyage was Europe into a major business. Increasingly this taken up by various artists. Even Storck known works. Some unsigned plants could have originated in the workshop Storck. Here is also a link to the marine painter Hendrik Jacobsz. Dubbels.

During the visit of Tsar Peter in Holland he participated in the construction of a ship at the shipyard of the Dutch East India Company in Amsterdam. This ship, named in his honor Pieter de Paul is depicted in several paintings from all sides. At the same time it is the only source of visual vessel. While staying the Tsar in Amsterdam also a sham battle of small yachts and domestic vehicles took place and this was also held back in several paintings.