G. van den Eeckhout (1621-1674)Gerbrand van den Eeckhout was a man of many talents. As well as making prints, drawings and paintings, he also illustrated books and designed gold and silver objects; his father worked in precious metals. Van den Eeckhout lived in Amsterdam. In the 1640s he became a pupil of Rembrandt and later the two became good friends. He adopted Rembrandt's dark colours and 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. as well as being influenced by Pieter Lastman. Like Lastman and Rembrandt, Van den Eeckhout painted mainly historical scenes and portraits. Gerbrand van den Eeckhout was also renowned for his knowledge and valuations of art. Among his acquaintances were scholars and poets and he had the reputation of a learned man. |
