Jan Hermansz van Bijlert (1597 or 1598 – November 1671) was a

Dutch Golden Age painter Dutch Golden Age painting is the painting of the Dutch Golden Age, a period in Dutch history roughly spanning the 17th century, during and after the later part of the Eighty Years' War (1568–1648) for Dutch independence. The new Dutch Republi ...

from

Utrecht Utrecht ( ; ; ) is the List of cities in the Netherlands by province, fourth-largest city of the Netherlands, as well as the capital and the most populous city of the Provinces of the Netherlands, province of Utrecht (province), Utrecht. The ...

, one of the Utrecht Caravaggisti whose style was influenced by

Caravaggio Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (also Michele Angelo Merigi or Amerighi da Caravaggio; 29 September 1571 – 18 July 1610), known mononymously as Caravaggio, was an Italian painter active in Rome for most of his artistic life. During the fina ...

. He spent some four years in

Italy Italy, officially the Italian Republic, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe, Western Europe. It consists of Italian Peninsula, a peninsula that extends into the Mediterranean Sea, with the Alps on its northern land b ...

and was one of the founders of the

Bentvueghels The Bentvueghels (Dutch for "Birds of a Feather") were a society of mostly Dutch and Flemish artists active in Rome from about 1620 to 1720. They are also known as the Schildersbent ("painters' clique"). Activities The members, which incl ...

circle of northern painters in

Rome Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also the administrative centre of the Lazio Regions of Italy, region and of the Metropolitan City of Rome. A special named with 2, ...

Biography

Jan van Bijlert was born in

, the son of the

stained glass Stained glass refers to coloured glass as a material or art and architectural works created from it. Although it is traditionally made in flat panels and used as windows, the creations of modern stained glass artists also include three-dimensio ...

worker Herman Beernts van Bijlert. He may have had some training by his father. Subsequently, he became a student of

Abraham Bloemaert Abraham Bloemaert (25 December 1566 – 27 January 1651) was a Dutch painter and printmaker who used etching and engraving. He initially worked in the style of the " Haarlem Mannerists", but by the beginning of the 17th-century altered his style ...

. Like other painters from Utrecht, he travelled in

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

and

. In 1621 he was, along with Cornelis van Poelenburch and Willem Molijn, a founding member of the circle of Dutch and Flemish artists in

known as the

. It was the custom among the Bentvueghels to adopt a nickname. Van Bijlert's nickname was "Aeneas". Jan van Bijlert - The Concert - WGA02183

By 1625, he had returned to Utrecht, where he married and joined the

schutterij Schutterij () refers to a voluntary city guard or citizen militia in the medieval and early modern Netherlands, intended to protect the town or city from attack and act in case of revolt or fire. Their training grounds were often on open spaces w ...

. In 1630, he became a member of the Utrecht Guild of St. Luke and the Reformed church. From 1632 to 1637 he was active as deacon of the guild, and in 1634 he was appointed regent of the Sint-Jobsgasthuis. In 1639, he helped form a painter's school, the "Schilders-College", where he served as regent. He died in Utrecht.Jan van Bijlert
at the

Netherlands Institute for Art History The Netherlands Institute for Art History or RKD (Dutch: ), previously Rijksbureau voor Kunsthistorische Documentatie (RKD), is located in The Hague and is home to the largest art history center in the world. The center specializes in document ...

Work

Van Bijlert was a very prolific painter who left some 200 pictures. Upon his return from Rome he, like other Utrecht artists who had come under the influence of Caravaggio's work, painted in a style derived from that of Caravaggio. These Utrecht artists are referred to as the Utrecht Caravaggisti. The Caravaggesque style of van Bijlert's early paintings shows itself in the use of strong

chiaroscuro In art, chiaroscuro ( , ; ) is the use of strong contrasts between light and dark, usually bold contrasts affecting a whole composition. It is also a technical term used by artists and art historians for the use of contrasts of light to ach ...

, the cutting off of the picture plane to create a close-up image and the realism of the representation. Van Bijlert continued to paint in this style throughout the 1620s.Paul Huys Janssen. "Bijlert, Jan van." Grove Art Online. Oxford Art Online. Oxford University Press. Web. 13 Jul. 2014. Around 1630, van Bijlert turned to a more classicising style, possibly under the influence of Cornelis van Poelenburgh. His colours became lighter and his subject matter became more elevated such as religious scenes. In the 1630s he also painted compositions with small figures, usually representing genre scenes of brothels or musical gatherings. These works were similar to those of the Utrecht painter Jacob Duck. Van Bijlert also painted the portraits of eminent citizens of Utrecht such as burgomasters and nobles. His pupils included Bartram de Fouchier, Ludolf Leendertsz de Jongh, Johannes de Veer, Mattheus Wijtmans, and

Abraham Willaerts Abraham Willaerts (c. 1603 - 18 October 1669) was a Dutch Baroque painter, mostly of marine and harbor scenes. He also painted a number of single and family portraits. Life Abraham Willaerts was born in Utrecht (city), Utrecht, the son of the p ...

Gallery

File:Saint Sebastian attended by Saint Irene.jpg, '' Saint Sebastian Tended by Saint Irene'', c. 1620s, (private collection) File:Jan van Bijlert - Venus Chastising Cupid - Google Art Project.jpg, ''Venus Chastising Cupid'' File:The Holy Family by Jan van Bijlert.jpg, ''The Holy Family'' File:Jan van Bijlert - Pulling of the Pretzel - Google Art Project.jpg, "Pulling of the Pretzel" 1630-1640 File:Jan van Bijlert - Shepherd Holding a Flute - WGA02187.jpg, ''Shepherd Holding a Flute '' File:Jan van Bijlert - Girl with a flute - Google Art Project.jpg, ''Girl with a Flute'' File:Jan van Bijlert - Young Man Drinking a Glass of Wine - WGA02184.jpg, ''Young Man Drinking a Glass of Wine'', ca. 1625 File:Bijlert - Le Festin des dieux - 09-530998.jpg, (The Feast of the Gods) File:Jan van Bylert (Werkstatt) Eine Kurtisane am Ohr einer Katze ziehend.jpg, ''Courtesan'' (workshop of van Bijlert)

Biography

Work

Gallery

References

Sources