Famous Dutch Painters from Dordrecht, Ancient Capital of Holland

Part 11

24. Otto Boudewijn de Kat
25. Willem de Klerk
26. Bernard Koldeweij
27. Leendert de Koningh
28. Adrianus van der Koogh
29. Cornelis Kuipers

Dordrecht is not only known as the oldest city and ancient capital of Holland but also for the many famous painters who were born or lived in Dordrecht during the late Middle ages and later centuries.

The most famous painters from Dordrecht were :

Abraham Bloemaert, Ferdinand Bol, Abraham van Calreat, Albaert, Benjamin Gerritz and Jacob Gerritz CUYP, Pieter Fontijn, Aert de Gelder, Samuel van Hoogstraten, Arnold Houbraken, Willem de Klerk, Frans Lebret, Jacobus Leveck, Nicolaes Maes, Ary Scheffer, Aert and Martinus Schouman, Abraham van Strij, Jan Veth and many, many others.

On the next pages you can find many works from these famous painters who were responsible for many styles of paintings and they immortalized the daily life and landscapes in the 15th to 19th century. Most of their masterpieces are nowadays part of collections in museums all over the world and of which many can be seen in the local Dordrechts Museum.

Otto Boudewijn de Kat

Dordrecht 1907 - Laren 1995

Otto Boudewijn de Kat was born in Dordrecht, but grew up in Haarlem, where he went to the art school and went to Paris in 1928. Later he attended an evening course at the State Academy in Amsterdam. That study show him the gate to the world. He goes to Paris, where he explored the artistic climate and he met the leading artists such as Mondrian, Van Doesburg and Zadkine.

Back in Holland he tries with restoration work to obtain his money, but he is convinced that painting is his profession. The structure and surface of his paintings are imple. He cntinues to paint compositions with powerful strokes and clear contours. De Kat is looking for inspiration in nature, interior and portrait. An artist who is not sensitive to narrow art of painting.

View on Dordrecht Otto B. de Kat, 1962 Oil on canvas 65x 92 cm ordrechts museum

A reclining nude Otto B. de Kat, 1943 Oil on Canvas 60 x 91 cm Private collection

Houses and ruins Otto B. de Kat, 1935 Oil on canvas 46.1 x 54.3 cm Private collection

Young woman in green shirt Otto B. de Kat Oil on canvas 30.5 x 40.5 cm Private collection

Landscape in Italy Otto B. de Kat, 1935 Oil on canvas 46,2 x 54 cm Private collection

The round table Otto B. de Kat, 1937 Oil on canvas 100 x 10 cm Private collection

Study for a portrait of H.R.H Queen Juliana Otto B. de Kat Watercolor on paper 43.5 x 21.5 cm Private collection   Inscribed with title and dedication 'Opgedragen aan mevr. van Zonderen'

A still life with apples on a kitchen table Otto B. de Kat, 1947 Watercolor on paper 38 x 56 cm Private collection

A view of the Louvre, Paris Otto B. de Kat, 1938 Oil on canvas 27.5 x 30.5 cm Private collection

Houses in the snow at Overveen Otto B. de Kat, 1942 Oil on canvas 35.5 x 61.5 cm Private collection

A dining room at Ukkel St. Job Otto B. de Kat, 1938 oil on canvas 65 x 40 cm Private collection

Valley of the Cagnes Oto B. de Kat, 1934 Oil on canvas 46 x 54 cm Private collection

Willem de Klerk

Dordrecht 1800 - Dordrecht 1876

Willem de Klerk was a pupil of the landscape painters Pieter Hofmann Dordrecht (1755-1837) and Adrianus van der Koogh (1796-1831). From seventeen he was a member of art society Pictura, where he had various directorships. Like many painters in the first half of the eighteenth century, De Klerk traveled along the Rhne. In 1835 and 1838 he traveled through Germany. De Klerk is one of the few romantic painters of Dordrecht.

His early work is in the tradition of Jacob van Strij. The sky do sometimes think of Aelbert Cuyp's work. In de Klerk's later landscapes is the influence of Barend Cornelis Koekkoek noticeable, he was called the "Dordtse Koekkoek". His woodsy scenes are sunny and mountanous landscapes with water features. De Klerk painted a lot of nature. In his studio he eventually idalized landscapes together, based on sketches and from memory.

View on the Rhine Willemde Klerk, 1843 Oil on panel 66,2 x 89,8 cm Dordrechts museum   This highly romanticized landscape isin subject choice, composition and coloring clearly based on the work of Barend Cornelis Koekkoek, like hisview of the Rhine Valley.

Mountainous river landscape with figures Willem de Klerk Oil o canvas and panel 144,7 x 198 cm Dordrechts museum   Like Barend Cornelis Koekkok, de Klerk took is inspiration in the Dutch/German Rhine landscape. From various elements in his sketchbook he composed this idyllic landscape We see resting figures, flowing water, lush scenery and a beautiful view at a castle hih above the River.

Summer scene Klerk, Willem de Oil on panel 65,9 x 89,1 cm  Dordrechts museum

Winter scene Willem de Klerk Oil on panel 70,1 x 93,8 cm Dordrechts museum

Winter landscape Willem de Klerk Oil on panel 66, x 89,8 cm  Dordrechts museum

Landscape With Travelers On A Track NearA Lake Willem de Klerk Oil on panel 59 x 86 cm Private collection

On the ice Willem de Klerk il on canvas 97.5 x 130 cm Private collection

A Dutch Summer Landscape Willem de Klerk Oil o panel 41 x 54 cm Private collection

Winter landscape wit skaters on a small river Willem de Klerk Oil on panel 55.5 x 78 cm Private collection

Bernard Koldeweij

Dordrecht 1859 - Dordrecht 1898

Bernard Koldewey was born in Dordrecht. He was educated at the Antwerp art academy and was advised by the painter Théophile de Bock. He lives and works not only in Antwerp but also in his birthplace Dodrdecht. Like many artists in the 19th century, Koldewey traveled to Italy and Corsica.

Koldewey mainly painted still-lifes, landscapes, port and river scenes, in aquarelle and signed. There are also several figure pieces known of him. Koldewey belongs to the Dordtse Impressionists. These artists painted impressionistic works in and around Dordrecht, so this style is called Dordste Impressionists. He died in 1898 in his native city.

Low tide in de Biesbosch Bernard Koldeweij Oil on canvas 40,8 x 61,3cm  Dordrechts museum

Self portrait Bernard Koldeweij Oil on panel  35 x 24,5 cm  Dordrechts museum

Visiting the museum Bernard Koldeweij Oil on panel  43 x 33,5 cm  Dordrechts museum   Koldewey belonged with Roland Lary and Marinus Reus to painter around 1880 who introduced the new ideas of the Hague School in Dordrecht. In cityscapes and landscapes he developed an impressonistic process with a strong emphasis on atmosphere and life authenticity. That characterizes this painting of the hall of the Dordrecht Museum, as to early 20th century was located in the Boterbeurs at the Wijnstraat.

Going home Bernard Koldeweij Oil on panel 41 x 1,4 cm  Drdrechts museum

Fishermen on the river Hollands diep near Dordrecht Bernard Koldeeij Oi on canvas 96,4 x 159,5 cm  Dordrechts museum

Working in the kitchen garden Berard Koldeweij Oil on canvas 61.5 x 40 cm Private collection

Women at a ditch on afarm ina polder landscape Bernard Koldeweij Oil on painters carton 30 x 42 cm Private collection

Farm on Walchren Bernard Koldeweij, 1890 Oil on canvas 83 x107 cm Private collection

View o Dordrecht at the Meuse river Bernard Koldeweij Oil on canvas 82.5 x 103 cm Private collection

Leendert de Koningh

Dordrecht 1777 - Dordrecht 1849

River View at Dordrecht in the so-called Pelser Leedert de Koningh, 1844 Oil on board 68,2 x 84,2 cm  Dordrechts museum

Landscape with cattle and milk's in the vicinity of Dordrecht Leendert de Koningh Oil on panel 49,8 x 68,9 cm  Dordrechts museum

Swiss emigrants at the Mile in Dordrecht Leendert de Koningh, 1819 Oil on panel Museum Mr. Simon van Gijn, Dordrecht

A milkmaid walking along a waterway Leendert de Koningh Oil on panel 40 x 51.5 cm Private collection

Washer women at a riverbank, a castle beyond Leendert de Koningh Oil on panel 33.5 x 43 cm Private collection

A winter landscape with cattle-traders and push- and horse-drawn sledges on a frozen river Leendert de Koningh Oil n panel 44.5 x 63 cm Private collection

Reading the Koran Leendert de Koningh  Oil on panel 4.2 x 36.2 cm Private collection

Shepherdess and her flock near a river Leendert de Koingh Oil on panel 49.5 x 66 cm Private collection

Hilly landscape with restingshepherd and his flock of sheep Leendert de Koningh Oil on panel 40 x 60 cm Private collection

A Dutch canal with a milkmaid and shepherd boys, cottages and a windmill beyond Leendert de Koningh Oil on panel 45.2 x 61 cm Private collection

Adrianus van der Koogh

Middelharnis 1796 - Dordrecht 1831

Adrianus van der Koogh was born in Middelharnis. When he was 16 he was sent to Dordrecht to take lesson with his cousin Peter Hofman.   Then he joined the studio of Jacob van Strij, who was acquained with the work of 17th-century landscape painters, especially Albert Cuyp.   Under the influence of this example painted Van der Koogh before arly 1820 romantic wooded landscapes, his series lithographs had impact on the next generation of landscape paintrs.

View of Beek from the Ravenberg Adrianus van der Koogh, 1820 Museum Valkhof Nijmegen

Travelers on a sandy trackthrough a village in a wooded landscape Adrianus van der Koogh Oil on canvas 73.5 x 95.5 cm Private colection

An extensive rolling landscape with travellers on a sandy track by a watermill Adrianus van de Koogh Oil on Canvas 73 x 101.5 cm Private collection

Dutch river landscape with Castle, Windmill and cattle Adrianus van der Koogh Oil on canvas 62 x 83 cm Private collection

Peasant House in wooded landscape Adrianus van der Koogh Oil on panel 43 x 53 cm Private collection

A wooded landscape with a cowherd andcattle by a cottage Adrianus van der Koogh, 1817 oil on panel 56 x 74.5 cm Private collection

Cornelis Kuipers

Dordrecht 739 - Dordrecht 1802

Cornelis Kuipers, a man who played a subordinate role in the Dordtse painting-art, was born on July 3, 1739 as the son of the 'good citizens' Hendrik Kuipers and Cornelia van Nispen. As a young boy he learned drawing but it was theintention that he learned coarse painting. Cornelis took his apprenticeship in The Hague by Hendrik Johan Keller (1698-1765) and his student Dirk van der Aa (1731-1809), where cilings, room wall systems, panels for carriages and chimney and door pieces were produced. Keller gave Kuiprs the opportunity to improve his skills in painting.

After his training Cornelis Kuipers returned to his native city, wher he married January 1, 1764 with Adriana Booy. His mother was a witness at the wedding but his father had already died a few years before. Kuipers ad a flourishing shop and made decorative paintings in the houses of prominent residents Dordtse commitments. Examples include the chimney piece for the Maaskamer (Mese Room), an existing dome-shaped room in the house Wolwershaven 9 and in 1778 a chimney piece in Louis XV-style for a house in the Wijnstraat.

He also made the painting of the organ and the pulpit in the Lutheran church. He also painted landscapes, flowers and portraits amd a group portrait of the family Blussé in 1777. Kuipers is briefly described in the following quote: 'C. Kuipers was an obese and portly man, who had much ingenuity and could become a good painter when from the beginning a good master of painting had apprenticed him '. Kuiper as a friend of the Dortse painter Cornelis Vermeulen (1732-1813)

From 1783 Kuipers was the second lieutenant f the St. George national guard, also called 'the guards van den nobles crossbow. On a drawing of the guard, he portrays himself with a palette in his hand. He wold stay lieutenant of the national guard until 1793. Kuipers was also a member of the freedom movement (republicans) in 1784, against Stadtholder William V, of which Dordrechtwas the centre, the republican rebellikon was crushed down by the king of Prussia, by his brother-in-law in 1787.

The loss of his talented 34year-old, unmarried, son Henry, on April 11, 1798, buried in the Grote Kerk or its cemetery, was difficult to process for hm. Kuipers died on December 4, 1802, in the burial register of the Grote Kerk on December 10, 1802 is noted: 'Cornelis Kuipers, on' t Bagijnhof left behind hildren, buried with the funeral coach at 11 hours.

Flowers and cat on a marble table Cornelis Kuipers, 1779 Oil on panel 87 x 70 cm Private collection

Flowers and fish-can on a marble table Cornelis Kuipers, 1777 Oil on panel 87 x 70 cm Private collection

A summer day in the forest Cornelis Kuipers, 1788 Oil on panel 49 x 67,5 cm Private collection

Duck Family in the osier Cornelis Kuipers Oil on canvas 15 x 46 cm Private collection

Next : Famous painters from Dordrecht, Part 13