Thomas de Keyser: Difference between revisions

Thomas de Keyser 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]]. They grew up at [[Groenburgwal]]. In 1616 he and Pieter became apprentices of their father; in 1619 he presented his first painting, an Anatomic Lesson.<ref>[https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/211840198.pdf A.W. WEISSMAN (1904) Het geslacht De Keyser]</ref> It is possible he was influenced by [[Cornelis Ketel]], for years friendly to his father. According to the [[Netherlands Institute for Art History]], he was a pupil of [[Cornelis van der Voort]], the head of the [[Guild of St. Luke]], who died in 1624.<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 what is 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 1622 Thomas and his brother Pieter became member of the Guild. In 1626 the painter lived in [[Jodenbreestraat]] when he married Machtelt Andries, the daughter of a goldsmith in [[Warmoesstraat]].<ref>https://archief.amsterdam/archief/5075/440</ref> As a heir of his uncle Aert the property was sold to the Sefardic community and changed into a house synagogue.<ref>https://archief.amsterdam/archief/5062/35; https://archief.amsterdam/archief/5075/599</ref> Thomas de Keyser faced strong competition from Rembrandt, as a portrait painter and received very few commissions. In 1640 he remarried and lived at Lindengracht in the [[Jordaan]]. The couple had five children, baptized as [[Remonstrants]]. He owned a [[Petit Granit]] business from 1624 until 1654, which he sold to Pieter.<ref>[https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/211840198.pdf A.W. WEISSMAN (1904) Het geslacht De Keyser]</ref><ref>https://archief.amsterdam/archief/5062/46</ref> Willem, his younger brother, cooperated with the architect [[Jacob van Campen]] on sketches for the town hall, but left for England after being accused of fraud and went broke.<ref>The municipal building company The organization of Public Works in the seventeenth century Dutch Republic by G. van Essen, p. 206</ref> Thomas occasionally returned to painting: in 1652 a [[Nausicaa]] meeting [[Odyssey]] on the beach, intended for "Desolate Boedelkamer" in the town hall.<ref>Liedtke, Walter (2007). Dutch paintings in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art, p. 393. </ref><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]] and [[Andries de Graeff]] in front of their 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 succeeded [[Daniel Stalpaert]] as 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.

A contemporary namesake of the painter was T(h)omas de Keyser, Gerritsz. ([[Utrecht (city)|Utrecht]], 1597–1651), his cousin and a stone mason, gatekeeper and actor.<ref>[http://www.dbnl.org/tekst/laan005lett01/laan005lett01_3794.htm Letterkundig woordenboek voor Noord en Zuid]</ref><ref>[https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/211840198.pdf A.W. WEISSMAN (1904) Het geslacht De Keyser]</ref>