Petrus Johannes (Pieter) van Bleeck (baptized 25 June 1697 in

The Hague The Hague ( ) is the capital city of the South Holland province of the Netherlands. With a population of over half a million, it is the third-largest city in the Netherlands. Situated on the west coast facing the North Sea, The Hague is the c ...

– 20 July 1764) was a

Dutch Dutch or Nederlands commonly refers to: * Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands ** Dutch people as an ethnic group () ** Dutch nationality law, history and regulations of Dutch citizenship () ** Dutch language () * In specific terms, i ...

portrait painter and

mezzotint Mezzotint is a monochrome printmaking process of the intaglio (printmaking), intaglio family. It was the first printing process that yielded half-tones without using line- or dot-based techniques like hatching, cross-hatching or stipple. Mezzo ...

engraver active in London, where he moved in 1723. Van Bleeck is especially known for theatrical subjects such as

Owen Swiny Owen Swiny (Also spelled McSwiny, Swiney, MacSwiny or MacSwinny) (1676, near Enniscorthy, Ireland – 2 October 1754) was an Irish theatre impresario and art dealer active in London known for his work in popularising Italian opera in London ...

Kitty Clive Catherine Clive (née Raftor; 5 November 1711 – 6 December 1785) Catherine ‘Kitty’ Clive (1711–1785, active 1728–1769) was a first songster and star comedienne of British playhouse entertainment. Clive led and created new forms of Engl ...

and

Margaret Woffington Margaret Woffington (18 October 1720 – 28 March 1760), was an Irish actress and socialite of the Georgian era. Early life Woffington was born of humble origins in Dublin, Ireland yet excelled in playing women from the upper classes. Her f ...

, but he also worked on other subjects such as James Foster. His paintings were frequently engraved, particularly by

John Faber the Younger John Faber the Younger (1684 – 2 May 1756)Johan Faber II
at the RKD was a Dutch portrait engraver active in L ...

. Peter engraved a portrait of Ellen "Nell" Gwynne by Sir Peter Lely. He was the son of Richard van Bleeck, also a portrait painter.

Personal life

Van Bleeck married Alice Cony in 1745 at St Pauls Cathedral London, in the Parish of St Benets near Pauls Wharf St Andrew. His Marriage Bond allegation of 8 OctoberLink text
Source Information: Ancestry.com. London and Surrey, England, Marriage Bonds and Allegations, 1597-1921 atabase on-line Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. Licensed Distributor of Original data: Marriage Bonds and Allegations. London, England: London Metropolitan Archives. (his notice of intent to marry) alleges he was a Bachelor from the Parish of Covent Garden, age 40 and she was a spinster age 35 from the Parish of St George the Martyr. He was granted license to marry and they did so, on 10 October 1745. His age was understated as he would have been around 48 years old at the time of his marriage. There were no children of this marriage.

Death

Van Bleeck died in July 1764 and was buried in London's Old St. Pancras Churchyard on 30 July 1764. A survey of 1795 states the grave is against the outer north wall of the original church. His Epitaph, as transcribed on page 43 in th
1869 book
by Frederick Teague CansickA Collection of Curious and Interesting Epitaphs, Monumental Inscriptions in Old S Pancras Church reads: ''Here Lies the Remains of Peter Van Bleeck Esq., worthy son of Richard van Bleeck Esq., A Gentleman of distinguished merit in every light, whether of husband, friend, citizen or Christian. Having married in 1746 (sic) Alicia, youngest daughter of William Corry Esq., of Walpole in Norfolk, whom he left without issue, he died on the 21st July 1764 age 67. Merritismo conjugi Moestissima conjux H.C.P.C. R.Q.I.P''

References

External links

Peter van Bleeck
at the

National Portrait Gallery National Portrait Gallery may refer to: * National Portrait Gallery (Australia), in Canberra * National Portrait Gallery (Sweden), in Mariefred *National Portrait Gallery (United States), in Washington, D.C. *National Portrait Gallery, London ...

''Anecdotes of painting in England''
by

Horace Walpole Horatio Walpole, 4th Earl of Orford (; 24 September 1717 – 2 March 1797), better known as Horace Walpole, was an English Whig politician, writer, historian and antiquarian. He had Strawberry Hill House built in Twickenham, southwest London ...

and others, p54
Bleeck, Pieter van
in the RKD database {{DEFAULTSORT:Bleeck, Peter Van 1697 births 1764 deaths Dutch portrait painters Dutch engravers 18th-century Dutch painters 18th-century Dutch male artists Dutch male painters Painters from The Hague Dutch expatriates in England