Jan de Beijer
Jan de Beijer (* September 24, 1703 in Aarau, Switzerland, † February 15, 1780 in Rees or Doesburg, Netherlands ) was a signatory of city and village views, as well as castles and palaces.
Family, Youth
There he lived for decades in Holland, his parents of Dutch origin were and the father, Johan Jacob de Beijer (* December 20, 1654 in Basel, † June 11, 1719 in Emmerich ) professionally in Switzerland, young men recruited for the Dutch armed forces, is he classified by most art historians as the Dutch. De Beijer was still a little six year old boy, as the Reformed family moved to Emmerich. The father was a member of the Reformed congregation, which had then moved into a new, by a Dutch architect -designed church building ( Christ Church ) just at the Emmerich Geest market.
There is evidence that Jan de Beijer in Emmerich attended high school. Whether he has passed the Abitur, is not known.
De Beijer had two older brothers: Johan Jacob, who later became a lawyer in Vierlingsbeek (now Boxmeer, The Netherlands) and at the Jan de Beijer often spent the summer; and Johan Andries (Johann Andreas ), the alderman of the city of Emmerich and was involved in negotiations with the French in Emmerich's name in the Seven Years War.
Klevian period
1722 Jan de Beijer went to Amsterdam to the art of drawing to learn from Cornelis Pronk. This Cornelis Pronk, born in Amsterdam in 1691 and died there in 1759, was then the most famous topographical draftsman of the Netherlands. Pronk visited in June 1731, the area around Cleves and from his notes indicate that he has visited there de Beijer, who was already a well-known artist. De Beijer traveled from Emmerich or Vierlingsbeek through the territory of the modern provinces of Limburg ( Netherlands), Gelderland, North Brabant (only the most eastern part ) and the area around Kleve, Emmerich, Goch, Wesel and Uerdingen. Like his teacher Pronk he made on the spot so-called nature studies, he worked out later at home to one or more drawings. Many of his works have been included as illustrations in books (including Het Verheerlykt Nederland - " The glorified Netherlands", 1745-1774, 9 volumes). Wealthy Dutch loved it in the 18th century to collect books with exactly subscribed town or village views; but the drawings were also available separately. The city of Kleve was so popular with them as a health resort that pictures of this city were also included in Het Verheerlykt Nederland.
Amsterdam period
In the year 1751 drew de Beijer, who had previously traveled several times to Amsterdam to draw there, and his works for sale, finally in the Dutch capital has to offer. He painted from then on mostly cityscapes in Amsterdam and Utrecht and around these cities. Meanwhile, he had learned how to oil paint paintings. His mentor was the painter Johann Moritz Quinckhardt Reeser ( born 1688, died 1772). These paintings, of which less than five still exist include, artistic but not top class. At least until 1765, he made his drawings, the proceeds of which de Beijer allowed to live in ziemlichem prosperity.
Probably de Beijer founded with a fellow signatory company. Drawings have been preserved from the years 1759 and 1760, show the de Beijer and other artists during a cruise with the track boat to Haarlem. These images are located in the Amsterdam Municipal Archives.
However, spent his life at Jan de Beijer again in Kleverland ( where exactly is unknown). He died in either the Huth Castle in Rees or during a visit to his brother Johann Andreas in Doesburg on February 15 in 1780.
Exhibited works by de Beijer
Works by de Beijer can be seen, among other things in the houses below.
- Museum B.C. Koekkoek Kleve
- Rhine Museum in Emmerich am Rhein
- Windsor Castle in London; the British Queen has included a picture of the former stone gate in Emmerich and one of the town of Xanten
- Städel in Frankfurt am Main
- Municipal Museum, Arnhem
- St. Martin's Church in Emmerich
- Rijksprentenkabinet in Amsterdam
Many drawings of de Beijer that were available at affordable prices in the art market until a few years ago, are privately owned.