Caesar van Everdingen

From the series Dutch Masters

Caesar van Everdingen may not be a household name, but he is one of the most distinctive Dutch painters of the 17th century. His use of colour is exceptional and his rendering of texture and materials unsurpassed.

A Young Woman Warming her Hands over a Brazier: Allegory of Winter A Young Woman Warming her Hands over a Brazier: Allegory of Winter

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Unusual name

How does a boy born in Alkmaar come to be called Caesar Boetius? These names really do not occur in the Netherlands. This can be explained by his mother’s Italian roots; the painter was named after his great-grandfather, who was born in Mantua.

A Young Woman Warming her Hands over a Brazier: Allegory of Winter Cesar Boetius van Everdingen (1617–1678), oil on canvas, c. 1644–1648

Pan and Syrinx Pan and Syrinx

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Rediscovered

Caesar van Everdingen was a successful painter in his own time, but subsequently fell into oblivion. However, he has been making quite a comeback in the past decades. The Rijksmuseum only managed to acquire important paintings by him in 1991 and 2009.

Pan and Syrinx Cesar Boetius van Everdingen (1617–1678), oil on panel, c. 1637–1640

Woman in a Large Hat Woman in a Large Hat

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Classicist

Caesar Van Everdingen's style is called classicist. His work is characterized by bright colours, clear contours and balanced compositions. The folds of the dress in the Girl in a Large Hat recall those of classical sculptures.

Woman in a Large Hat Cesar Boetius van Everdingen (1617–1678), oil on canvas, c. 1645–1650

A Young Woman Warming her Hands over a Brazier: Allegory of Winter A Young Woman Warming her Hands over a Brazier: Allegory of Winter

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Winter

The woman warming her hands over hot coals actually personifies Winter. This season is usually depicted as an old person, because it is linked to the final, difficult phase of human life. For his allegory, Caesar, however, chose a young lady instead.

A Young Woman Warming her Hands over a Brazier: Allegory of Winter Cesar Boetius van Everdingen (1617–1678), oil on canvas, c. 1644–1648

A Young Woman Warming her Hands over a Brazier: Allegory of Winter A Young Woman Warming her Hands over a Brazier: Allegory of Winter

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Costly

The young woman warming herself over glowing coals wears a costly pearl necklace and earrings. Her hat and shirt are decorated with lace and her pink jacket is even trimmed with ermine. These kinds of bed jackets were very fashionable back then, and also occur in paintings by Vermeer, such as The Love Letter.

A Young Woman Warming her Hands over a Brazier: Allegory of Winter Cesar Boetius van Everdingen (1617–1678), oil on canvas, c. 1644–1648

Woman in a Large Hat Woman in a Large Hat

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Double meaning

Van Everdingen enjoyed making sexual allusions in his paintings. For instance, the woman personifying Winter has lifted her skirt to warm herself. And the woman with the wide-brimmed hat has bared her shoulder alluringly and proffers a basket of plums to the viewer.

Woman in a Large Hat Cesar Boetius van Everdingen (1617–1678), oil on canvas, c. 1645–1650

Portrait of Willem Jacobsz Baert (1636-1684), Burgomaster of Alkmaar Portrait of Willem Jacobsz Baert (1636-1684), Burgomaster of Alkmaar

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Devout

While his erotic paintings suggest otherwise, Caesar van Everdingen was a faithful follower of the Dutch Reformed Church. In their will, he and his wife even left a considerable sum of money to support poor students wishing to study theology.

Portrait of Willem Jacobsz Baert (1636-1684), Burgomaster of Alkmaar

Woman in a Large Hat Woman in a Large Hat

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An Egyptian hat and a special basket

The basket the woman holds up is from western Africa or Brazil. Her remarkable hat gave rise to the idea that it originally came from Egypt. Van Everdingen's painting evokes an exotic, foreign atmosphere.

Girl in a Large Hat, Caesar Boëtius van Everdingen, c. 1645 - c. 1650 (detail)

Woman in a Large Hat Woman in a Large Hat

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Reflections

Caesar was a master in painting fabrics. He masterfully observed how the skin colour can be reflected in the clothing. Notice the right sleeve of the Girl in a Large Hat, where he applied touches of pale pink paint in the grey shadow of a fold.

Girl in a Large Hat, Caesar Boëtius van Everdingen, c. 1645 - c. 1650 (detail)

Hendrik Trip’s Cannon Foundry in Julitabruk, Sweden Hendrik Trip’s Cannon Foundry in Julitabruk, Sweden

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Brother Allaert

Caesar's younger brother Allaert was also a painter, but their works could not differ more. Allaert painted exclusively landscapes, which were mainly inspired by a sojourn in Scandinavia. For the extremely wealthy arms dealer Hendrik Trip, Allaert painted a large picture of his cannon foundry in Julita Bruk, Sweden.

Hendrik Trip’s Cannon Foundry in Julitabruk, Sweden Allaert van Everdingen (1621–1675), oil on canvas, c. 1650–1675

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Meisje met een brede hoed, Caesar Boëtius van Everdingen, ca. 1645 - ca. 1650 Meisje met een brede hoed, Caesar Boëtius van Everdingen, ca. 1645 - ca. 1650

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