Abraham Bloemaert, 'Scenery with a shepherd'

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Origin: Utrecht
Period: C. 1600
Material: Black chalk, Pen, brown ink
Signature: Abraham Bloemaert, lower center
Height: 15 cm
Width: 23 cm
Literature: J. Bolten, Abraham Bloemaert c. 1565 - 1651, The Drawings, 2007.

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Description

This beautiful landscape drawing is made by the Utrecht painter Abraham Bloemaert (1566-1651). He was one of the most succesful and productive painters in the Netherlands around the year 1600. His studio counted many students and his paintings, drawings and prints were widespread throughout Europe. This drawing of a shepherd in a landscape fits into a series of drawings depicting landscapes. One of those is currently in the collection of the Rijksprentenkabinet Amsterdam. Karel van Mander wrote in his 'Schilder-boeck' of 1604 that Bloemaert used to draw the nature in the surroundings of his city Utrecht. Those studies were later used as inspiration for paintings and more detailed drawings. This drawing is probably also inspired on the Utrecht landscape.

In 2007 Jaap Bolten published a catalogue containing 1700 drawings made by Bloemaert and this drawing was also included. The drawings vary from studies and sketches to very detailed drawings that were used for sale. Bloemaert's sons, Frederick and Cornelis, kept the drawings very carefully. When Bloemaert died they published the 'Tekenboeck' (drawingbook) based on their father's drawings. The Tekenboeck was used by artist through the whole seventeenth and eighteenth century. Because of this Bloemaerts work stayed very popular for a long time and therefore much of his work has survived.