Thomas de Keyser: Difference between revisions

De Keyser was born and died in [[Amsterdam]]. He was a son of the architect and sculptor [[Hendrik de Keyser]] and the brother of [[Pieter de Keyser|Pieter]] and [[Willem de Keyser (architect)| Willem de Keyser]]. Their uncle Aert was a timber dealer, who settled on Houtgracht in a very early stage. According to the [[Netherlands Institute for Art History]], he was a pupil of [[Cornelis van der Voort]].<ref name=RKD>[https://rkd.nl/en/explore/artists/44226 Thomas de Keyser] at the [[Netherlands Institute for Art History]]</ref> Van der Voort lived in the same street, now the [[Rembrandthuis]]. The painters [[Nicolaes Eliaszoon Pickenoy]], who lived next door, [[Aert Pietersz]], [[Werner van den Valckert]] have been accredited by different authorities with having developed his talent, and sometimes his works have been confused with these painters, who painted portraits in similar styles.<ref name=RKD/> The works of [[Pieter Lastman]] and [[Joachim von Sandrart]] he knew very well.<ref>Verborgen verhalen. Wijze lessen in de decoraties van het voormalig Stadhuis van Amsterdam. Published on Jul 2, 2015. Auteurs: - Renske Cohen Tervaert, 'Verborgen verhalen' - Eric Jan Sluijter, 'Hoe Theseus werd verzekerd en Odysseus van de ondergang gered' - Jasper Hillegers, 'Verborgen verhalen ontrafeld' grafisch ontwerp: NorthernLight uitgever: Stichting Koninklijk Paleis Amsterdam, p. 21 </ref> ▼

In 1626 the painter lived in [[Jodenbreestraat]] when he married Machtelt Andries. As a heir of his uncle the property was sold to the Sefardic community and changed into a house synagogue. Thomas de Keyser faced strong competition from [[Rembrandt]], as a portrait painter and received very few commissions. In 1640 he remarried and lived in the [[Jordaan]]. The couple had two sons Pieter and Thomas, both baptized as [[Remonstrants]] in 1645 and 1649. He owned a [[Petit Granit]] business from 1640 until 1654, which he sold to Pieter. Willem cooperated with the architect [[Jacob van Campen]] on sketches for the town hall, but left for England after being accused of fraud.<ref>The municipal building company The organization of Public Works in the seventeenth century Dutch Republic by G. van Essen, p. 206</ref> Thomas returned to painting: in 1657 a [[Nausicaa]] meeting [[Odyssey]] on the beach, destined for the town hall.<ref>Verborgen verhalen. Wijze lessen in de decoraties van het voormalig Stadhuis van Amsterdam. Published on Jul 2, 2015. Auteurs: - Renske Cohen Tervaert, 'Verborgen verhalen' - Eric Jan Sluijter, 'Hoe Theseus werd verzekerd en Odysseus van de ondergang gered' - Jasper Hillegers, 'Verborgen verhalen ontrafeld' grafisch ontwerp: NorthernLight uitgever: Stichting Koninklijk Paleis Amsterdam, p. 23 </ref> The landscape painter [[Jacob Isaakszoon van Ruisdael]] painted a landscape as a background to one of his group portraits, mayor [[Cornelis de Graeff]] in front of his estate near Soestdijk.<ref>[https://rkd.nl/en/explore/artists/68835 Jacob Isaacksz van Ruisdael] at the Netherlands Institute for Art History</ref> From 1662, at the age of 65, until his death he was chief supervisor of the construction, now the [[Paleis op de Dam]].<ref name="Cultuurarchief">[http://www.absofacts2.com/kunstenaars/keyserthomasde1596.htm Cultuurarchief]</ref><ref>[http://www.collective-action.info/sites/default/files/webmaster/_JIW_LIT_Gea-van-Essen_Daniel-Stalpaert.pdf Daniel Stalpaert (1615-1676) stadsarchitect van Amsterdam en de Amsterdamse stadsfabriek in de periode 1647 tot 1676 Gea van Essen, p. 107]</ref> He was buried in the [[Zuiderkerk]], like his father.▼

== Work ==▼

His portraiture is full of character and masterly in handling, and often distinguished by a rich golden glow of color and Rembrandtesque [[chiaroscuro]]. Some of his portraits are life-size, but the artist generally preferred to keep them on a considerably smaller scale, like the famous ''Four Amsterdam burgomasters assembled to receive Marie de Medici'' in 1638, now on display at the [[Mauritshuis]] museum in The Hague.▼

A contemporary namesake of the painter was Tomas de Keyser ([[Utrecht (city)|Utrecht]], 1597–1651), a stone mason, an actor and nephew of Hendrick de Keyser.<ref>[http://www.dbnl.org/tekst/laan005lett01/laan005lett01_3794.htm Letterkundig woordenboek voor Noord en Zuid]</ref>▼