Leonaert Bramer

Leonaert Bramer ( born December 24, 1596 Delft, † February 10, 1674 ) was a Dutch painter of genre scenes, religious and mythological scenes and history paintings. As a painter and draftsman, he is especially appreciated for night scenes that show a preference for exotic details of the costumes and dramatic productions. Bramer is one of the most fascinating personalities of Dutch art in the 17th century.

Life

Bramer was born in Delft. At age 18, he went on a long journey in 1614 and 1616 reached Rome on Atrecht, Amiens, Paris, Aix -en- Provence, Marseille, Genoa and Livorno.

In Rome he was a founder of the " Bentvueghels ", a group of artists from the north. He lived with Wouter Crabeth under one roof and dedicated to the painter Wybrand de Geest a poem. Bramer lived intermittently until 1627 in Rome, visited Mantua and Venice and to meet with Domenico Fetti. In Italy, he was given the nickname " Leonardo della Notte " (Eng.: Leonardo at night). His stay in Rome ended in October 1627 after he was involved in a tavern quarrel with stabbing, tried to mediate in the Claude Lorrain. The now imminent conflict with the law prompted Bramer, to leave Rome.

After 1628 he was back in Delft, where he in 1629 the Guild of St. Luke and the Protect Brotherhood joined. Among his many patrons were members of the House of Orange, but also local mayors and judges bought many of his paintings. In 1648 Bramer traveled for the second time to Rome.

Bramer was not married.

Work

He was a versatile artist who designed tapestries for weaving in Delft, painted walls and ceilings, some of them in the illusionistic style. He painted real frescos in the House of Burgesses guard, in palaces, the governor near Honselersdijk, Rijswijk and in the Prinsenhof in Delft. Bramer remained extraordinarily productive until his death in 1674. The research is shaped today by about 350 paintings.

He possibly knew of his great contemporaries in Delft, but were of lasting influence his Roman experience with the Baroque history painting, the dramatic picture productions and the chiaroscuro painting in the wake of Caravaggio. He was influenced by Adam Elsheimer, a master of mood and dramatic Nachszenen, the fresco painter Agostino Tassi and Caravaggio. His style is nervous. He had developed a perfect technique to paint light reflections.

Bramer is also known as a draftsman: his works on paper include 1,300 sheets, of which about 200 are in the Pinakothek der Moderne in Munich. His famous " album Bramer ", which was created 1642-1654 and is now preserved in Leiden, contains many sketches after paintings of Delft collections.