Nicolaes Maes (1634-1693)Nicolaes Maes was one of Rembrandt's most gifted pupils. At about the age of fifteen he left Dordrecht for Amsterdam to be apprenticed to the great master. Until the late 1650s, Maes painted mostly genreGenreA 'genre' is a theme in painting. Up to the 16th century, most paintings featured religious subjects. Around 1600 this started to change. Artists began specialising in a particular subject. These new 'genres' were usually not or only partly religious. They included, for example, landscape, still life, architectural painting and history painting. These had long been included in paintings as elements of a composition, but never as the central theme. There is also a genre known as 'genre' painting. This category features works in which people are depicted in their everyday environment. scenes in the style of Rembrandt, with a great deal of chiaroscuroChiaroscuroClair-obscur (French) and chiaroscuro (Italian) both mean 'light-dark'. The two terms are used to denote sharp contrasts of light and dark in paintings, drawings and prints. Although the effect was already in use before, the term came into vogue in the late 16th century. The word originate in Italy. The painter Caravaggio (1573-1610) made chiaroscuro his trademark. He was a master at painting dark scenes illuminated by a single ray of light. and warm colours. After 1660, Maes switched to portraiture, of which his picture of Simon van Alphen in a good example. The portraits were more colourful and lighter in hue: adapted to the taste of that time. Maes was one of the most productive painters of the BaroqueBaroqueThe style that dominated visual art and architecture between 1600 and 1750 is generally known as 'Baroque'. The term comes from the Portuguese word 'barroco', an irregularly shaped pearl. Baroque started in Italy, but soon spread to the rest of Europe. However, in Dutch art the style was less influential than in the south. Typical of the Baroque style are the turning, undulating movement, the dramatic contrasts of light and dark and theatrical effects. Baroque ceiling paintings, for example, are so deceptively real that the border between painting and architecture is sometimes hard to see. Baroque artists aimed to express and stir up electrifying emotions. state portrait. From 1653 until 1674 Maes lived in Dordrecht, after which he returned to Amsterdam, where he remained until his death. |
