ART HISTORY FRIDAY

THE DUTCH
GOLDEN AGE
 The Dutch Golden Age
17th century
The Dutch Republic
was the most wealthy
nation in Europe
Known for realism
and for following
specific genres of
painting.
Most artists worked in
one genre still life,
landscape, or portrait
for their entire
career.
 The Dutch Golden Age
Everyday people
could afford their
own paintings
Artists began to work
with professional art
dealers
Artists continued the
tradition of learning
under a master
painter, and art
academies became
popular
 Johannes Vermeer
Specialized in
scenes of middle-
class life
Worked very slowly
and carefully, and
used expensive
materials like lapis
lazuli and
ultramarine
Famous for his use
of light and shadow

Vermeer, Young Woman with a

Vermeer, View of Delft
 Johannes Vermeer
After the French
Invasion of 1672,
Vermeer was left
in poverty
He died in 1675,
leaving his wife
and children in
debt
His work was
rediscovered in
1860 and became
famous Vermeer, Girl with a Pearl Earring
 Rachel Ruysch
One of the most
talented still-life
painters in history
The best-known
woman painter of
the Dutch Golden
Age
Created
fantastical
arrangements of
flowers Rachel Ruysch, Roses, Convolvulus,
Poppies, and Other Flowers in an Urn
 Rachel Ruysch
Painted with great
detail and
precision
Created hundreds
of paintings; 250
currently still exist
At her death,
eleven poets
wrote tributes to
her life and work
Rachel Ruysch, Still Life with Flowers
 Rembrandt van Rijn
Known for his use
of light and dark
in painting also
called chiaroscuro
Famous for his
portraits
Rembrandt, The Night Watch, 1642
 Rembrandt van Rijn
Rembrandt
outlived most of
his loved ones.
He died very
poor, but is very
famous today.

Rembrandt, Portrait of Saskia