Arti et Amicitiae (lat .: For Art and Friendship) is a Dutch artist's society founded in 1839, and located on the Rokin in Amsterdam. The Society (also called Arti for short) has played a key role in the Netherlands art scene and in particular in the Amsterdam art schools. It was and is to this day a hub for artists and art lovers in the city of Amsterdam. It is a private institution which supports artists, maintains social networks and offers a pension fund. In recent times it has been one of the venues for the 17th edition of the

Sonic Acts Sonic Acts is an organisation for the research, development and production of works at the intersection of art, science and theory. It also commissions and co-produces new works, often in collaboration with international festivals, arts organisati ...

Festival. Arti et Amicitiae is also the name of the building. The complex was merged from two separate buildings and given a white neo-classical facade by J. H. Leliman in 1855.

History and Structure

In 1794 the last Dutch city

painter's guild The Guild of Saint Luke was the most common name for a city guild for painters and other artists in early modern Europe, especially in the Low Countries. They were named in honor of the Evangelist Luke, the patron saint of artists, who was ident ...

was dissolved during the French occupation by Napoleonic rule. The need for a common meeting place for artists became various clubs and drawing societies. In 1839 the ''Sociëtait Arti et Amicitiae'' was founded. A year later the building "Grand Salon Dupond", located in the center of Amsterdam at the Rokin 3, was acquired at an auction. It became the home of this young society. Its aim was to address a distinguished audience and to promote interest in art. Initially it was called Arti et Amicitiae – Sociëtait – Société des Beux on Rokin 3. Today it is called Maatschappij Arti et Amicitiae, or just "Arti". Today the house is assigned the number 112. In 1841 the new exhibition Salon was created according to plans by the architect Marinus van Elven Geradur Tetar on the first floor. He was professor and director of the architecture department at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Amsterdam. To enhance this cooperative society of Fine Arts, in 1841 the King William II was given honorary membership. In 1880, the reestablishment of the St. Lucas Artist's Association took place in Amsterdam. This had nothing in common with the construction and alignment of the old guilds. Like other artist clubs, it was a meeting place, a place of training, and a meeting point of art lovers and collectors. However, it was unable to compete with the Sociëteit Arti et Amicitiae because it was considered too academic. Added to this there was the problem of a lack of exhibition space. Of great importance were the art appreciation evenings. Art lovers (amateurs) and collectors gathered around the artist who showed photographs and lithographs. The declared objective was to stimulate interest in the art, and then finally to improve the economic situation of the artist. This was new for artist societies. After the guilds had vanished as an economic instrument, this form of art promotion was the best alternative. For the members they created a widows and orphans fund along the lines of the old guilds funded by a portion of entrance fees for artists, the sale of exhibition catalogs and membership fees of the honorary members. Other income was generated from sales from the collection of the Historical Gallery.

Arti et Amicitiae – the politics

Arti et Amicitiae Amsterdam kunstzaal 1841

It was decided by Napoleon Bonaparte that the art world always had to be operated and determined by the rulers. In the Art Academy of

Delft Delft () is a city and municipality in the province of South Holland, Netherlands. It is located between Rotterdam, to the southeast, and The Hague, to the northwest. Together with them, it is part of both the Rotterdam–The Hague metropolita ...

non-artists made art policy. The ranks of Soziëteit aimed to create an effective counter-movement. The aim has always been to guarantee the sovereignty of society – which has been retained steadfastly to this day. This was, and still is today, above all the financial as an art policy. To increase the popularity of an advertising campaign for a statue of a very important son of the city –

Rembrandt van Rijn Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (, ; 15 July 1606 – 4 October 1669), usually simply known as Rembrandt, was a Dutch Golden Age painter, printmaker and draughtsman. An innovative and prolific master in three media, he is generally cons ...

– has been initiated. A founding member of Arti et Amiticae,

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, created this statue. In 1852 it was unveiled by King William III. One of the main concerns was the creation of a historical gallery with 103 works from scenes of national history. In 1841 the increase took place in the new exhibition room. The interesting effect was, a glass roof let sunlight into the elongated exhibition room. It was possible because the new steel construction allowed in the roof area a continuous band of windows. The shading effect has been achieved via an internal cornice. The vertical exhibit space was divided on pilasters. This is well recognized for its individually tailored art exhibitions. This is both to members and non-members. The latter include, inter alia,

Marc Chagall Marc Chagall; russian: link=no, Марк Заха́рович Шага́л ; be, Марк Захаравіч Шагал . (born Moishe Shagal; 28 March 1985) was a Russian-French artist. An early modernism, modernist, he was associated with se ...

Vincent van Gogh Vincent Willem van Gogh (; 30 March 185329 July 1890) was a Dutch Post-Impressionist painter who posthumously became one of the most famous and influential figures in Western art history. In a decade, he created about 2,100 artworks, inc ...

and

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. The company is called today about 550 artists and 1100 as members of her own sponsor. The very valuable and extensive historical library that was built up over the history of this association, has been delivered to the

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in Amsterdam. – The historical archives is still there.

The Building

The accommodation at the Rokin 3 have been maintained until today. The semi-detached house is characterized by the built-in cast-iron supports. The glass roof ensures a uniform illumination. The neo-classical facade has been accentuated by the four

allegory As a literary device or artistic form, an allegory is a narrative or visual representation in which a character, place, or event can be interpreted to represent a hidden meaning with moral or political significance. Authors have used allegory t ...

building, sculpture, engraving and painting – they are standing for the four in the house united art forms. These sculptures date back to Franz Stracke. In the facade are located a hand as a landmark and the ox, patron saint of the former guild of St. Lucas. The architect Hendrikus Petrus Berlage had taken the indoor design. Here showrooms, boardrooms and a private club room have been created. In 1893/94 the first rebuilding took place. The main entrance was moved to the Spui and the staircase and the hallway had been renewed. The architects Berlage and Beys, both members of the Artists' Association, distinguished themselves responsible for this construction project. In the years 1962–64 the building was completely restored and modernized. The main entrance was moved back to the Rokin. The exhibition rooms have been modernized. The precious woodwork of the interiors and the furniture works are still largely intact. In 2009, the adjacent building no. 114 was purchased in order to integrate new premises. In the precious staircase is a gallery of the great painters of the 2nd Golden Age of Dutch painting. These are such names as

Lizzy Ansingh Maria Elisabeth Georgina Ansingh (13 March 1875 – 14 December 1959) was a Dutch painter. Ansingh belonged to a group of female post-impressionist painters influenced by the Amsterdam Impressionism movement called the '' Amsterdamse Joffers''. ...

George Hendrik Breitner George Hendrik Breitner (12 September 1857 – 5 June 1923) was a Dutch painter and photographer. An important figure in Amsterdam Impressionism, he is noted especially for his paintings of street scenes and harbours in a realistic style. He pa ...

, Marius Bauer,

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, the brothers

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and

Matthijs Maris Matthias Maris (17 August 1839 – 22 August 1917) was a Dutch painter, etcher and lithographer. He was also known as Matthijs Maris or Thijs. He initially belonged to the Hague School, like his two brothers, Jacob and Willem, but his later ...

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, Jozef Israëls, Lourens Alma Tadema,

Hendrik Willem Mesdag Hendrik Willem Mesdag (23 February 1831 – 10 July 1915) was a Dutch marine painter. Biography He was born in Groningen, the son of the banker Klaas Mesdag and his wife Johanna Wilhelmina van Giffen. Mesdag was encouraged by his father ...

Jan Sluijters Johannes Carolus Bernardus (Jan) Sluijters, or Sluyters (17 December 1881 in 's-Hertogenbosch – 8 May 1957 in Amsterdam) was a Dutch painter and co-founder of the Moderne Kunstkring. Sluijters (in English often spelled "Sluyters") was a leadi ...

Jan Toorop Johannes Theodorus 'Jan' TooropJan Toorop
Jan Hendrik Weissenbruch Jan Hendrik Weissenbruch, also known as Hendrik Johannes Weissenbruch (born 19 June 1824 in The Hague – died 24 March 1903 in The Hague) was a Dutch painter of the Hague School. He is noted especially for his watercolours. Biography Hendrik J ...

Willem Witsen Willem Witsen (13 August 1860, Amsterdam - 13 April 1923, Amsterdam) was a Dutch painter and photographer associated with the Amsterdam Impressionism movement. Witsen's work, influenced by James McNeill Whistler, often portrayed calm urban land ...

Coba Ritsema Jacoba Johanna (Coba) Ritsema (26 June 1876, Haarlem – 13 December 1961, Amsterdam), was a portrait painter from the Netherlands. Biography Jacoba, or Coba, was born in 1876 as the daughter of the book printer Coenraad Ritsema and his wi ...

and Kees Marks.

Willink van Collenprijs

In 1878 Wilhelm Ferdinand Willink van Collen had decreed in his will. An amount of 30,000 guilders was to support the Sociëteit Arti et Amicitiae. He had the task of promoting the young Dutch artists during their study phase through a stipend. From 1880 the Willink van Collenprijs was awarded with interruptions until 1950. First Arti had oriented to the tiered pricing of

Paris Salon The Salon (french: Salon), or rarely Paris Salon (French: ''Salon de Paris'' ), beginning in 1667 was the official art exhibition of the Académie des Beaux-Arts in Paris. Between 1748 and 1890 it was arguably the greatest annual or biennial ar ...

. From 1890 only one 1st prize was awarded to the new regulation. In 1897, 1909 and 1910 and in 1917 it was awarded several times. In Amsterdam this idea of support for artists had fallen on fertile soil. This can be seen in its long duration and the recognition of a number of award winners up to the present time in 1950.

Prize of Sociëtait Arti et Amicitiae

In addition to the aforementioned prize, a separate prize for artist was awarded by the Sociëtait yet. This was also highly sought after. In the Netherlands there was the art exhibition of living artists, which took place in the two- to three-year intervals. Thus, the young artist had three ways to make a name and to make known their art in this way.

Important members

* * Johannes Evert Hendrik Akkeringa *

August Allebé August Allebé (19 April 1838 – 10 January 1927) was an artist and teacher from the Northern Netherlands. His early paintings were in a romantic style, but in his later work he was an exponent of realism and impressionism. He was a major init ...

* Louis Apol *

Floris Arntzenius Pieter Florentius Nicolaas Jacobus Arntzenius (9 June 1864 – 16 February 1925) was a Dutch painter, water-colourist, illustrator and printmaker. He is considered a representative of the younger generation of the Hague School. Arntzenius was b ...

* Franciscus Hermanus Bach * * Nicolaas Bastert * Jo Bauer * Marius Bauer *

Gerard Bilders Albertus Gerardus "Gerard" Bilders (9 December 1838 – 8 March 1865) was a Dutch landscape-painter, associated with some members of the Hague School, as Anton Mauve and Willem Maris. Biography Bilders was born in Utrecht, where he lived until ...

* Johannes Warnardus Bilders * Bernardus Johannes Blommers * Henri Frédéric Boot * Hendrik van Borssum Buisman * Johan Braakensiek *

* Jacobus Ludovicus Cornet * Ko Cossaar *

Pierre Cuypers Petrus Josephus Hubertus "Pierre" Cuypers (16 May 1827 – 3 March 1921) was a Dutch architect. His name is most frequently associated with the Amsterdam Central Station (1881–1889) and the Rijksmuseum (1876–1885), both in Amsterdam. ...

* Franz Deutmann * Adrianus Eversen *

Eduard Frankfort Eduard Salomon Frankfort (21 June 1864, in Meppel – 19 August 1920, in Laren) was a Dutch Jewish painter during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Early life and education Frankfort was born to Salomon Simon Frankfort and Dine ...

* Arnold Marc Gorter * *

Petrus Franciscus Greive Petrus Franciscus Greive (25 March 1811 in Amsterdam – 4 November 1872 in Amsterdam) was a Dutch painter and lithographer. Biography He studied with Jean Augustin Daiwaille, Jan Willem Pieneman and Christiaan Julius Lodewijk Portman (1799–1 ...

* * Hendrik Johannes Havermann * Marie Heineken *

Herman Heijenbrock Herman Heijenbrock (1871 in Amsterdam – 1948 in Blaricum), was a Dutch writer, painter, pastel draughtsman, and lithographer. He founded the "Museum van den Arbeid" in 1923, which later became NEMO (museum), NEMO Science Museum. Biography H ...

* Bartholomeus Johannes van Hove * Johannes Frederik Hulk * *

* Jozef Israëls * Eduard Karsen * Kasparus Karsen *

Petrus Kiers Petrus Kiers (5 January 1807, "Het Groeneveld", near Meppel – 17 November 1875, Amsterdam) was a Dutch painter, graphic artist and photographer. He created portraits, still-lifes and cityscapes, but he is best known for his Genre art, genre s ...

* Johannes Hermanus Barend Koekkoek * Arnold Hendrik Koning *

Jan Adam Kruseman Jan Adam Kruseman (12 February 1804, Haarlem - 17 March 1862, Haarlem) was a Dutch painter, known primarily for his portraits, although he also did landscapes and genre scenes. Biography He was born to a prominent family that would produce sever ...

Charles Leickert Charles Henri Joseph Leickert (22 September 1816, Brussels – 5 December 1907, Mainz) was a Belgian painter of Dutch landscapes. As a specialist in winter landscapes, he explored the nuances of the evening sky and the rosy-fingered dawn. ...

Jacobus van Looy Jacobus (Jac) van Looy (12 September 1855 – 24 February 1930) was a Dutch painter and writer. Biography Van Looy was the son of a carpenter, but his father lost his job when his eyesight began to fail. His mother died when he was five y ...

Anton Mauve Anthonij "Anton" Rudolf Mauve (18 September 18385 February 1888) was a Dutch realist painter who was a leading member of the Hague School. He signed his paintings 'A. Mauve' or with a monogrammed 'A.M.'. A master colorist, he was a very signific ...

Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita Samuel Jessurun de Mesquita (6 June 1868 – 11 February 1944) was a Dutch graphic artist active in the years before the Second World War. His pupils included graphic artist M. C. Escher (1898–1972). A Sephardic Jew, in his old age he was sen ...

Frans Molenaar Frans Molenaar (; 11 May 1940 – 9 January 2015) was a Dutch fashion designer.Frans Molenaar. Geschiedenis ...

Piet Mondriaan Pieter Cornelis Mondriaan (), after 1906 known as Piet Mondrian (, also , ; 7 March 1872 – 1 February 1944), was a Dutch painter and art theoretician who is regarded as one of the greatest artists of the 20th century. He is known for being o ...

* *

Ferdinand Hart Nibbrig Ferdinand Hart Nibbrig (5 April 1866 – 12 October 1915) was a Dutch painter and Theosophist. He was one of the first artists who introduced luminism to the Netherlands. Hart was his mother's maiden name. He adopted it in 1884 when all of her ...

* Wijnand Otto Jan Nieuwenkamp * Frans Oerder *

Jan van Oort Jan van Oort (13 April 1921 – 29 November 2006) was a Dutch children's book writer and comic strip cartoonist, working under the pseudonym of Jean Dulieu. He is known for his creation of ''Paulus the woodgnome''. Personal biography Jan va ...

* Benjamin Prins *

Louis Raemaekers Louis Raemaekers (April 6, 1869 – July 26, 1956) was a Dutch painter and editorial cartoonist for the Amsterdam newspaper ''De Telegraaf'' during World War I, noted for his anti-German stance. Early life He was born and grew up in Roermond, ...

Anthon van Rappard Anthon Gerard Alexander van Rappard (14 May 1858, Zeist – 21 March 1892, Santpoort) was a Dutch painter and draughtsman. He was a pupil of Lawrence Alma-Tadema. He was also a friend and mentor of Vincent van Gogh for about four years, who is sai ...

Charles Rochussen Charles Rochussen ( Kralingen, 1 August 1814 – Rotterdam 22 September 1894) was a 19th-century painter from Rotterdam, the Netherlands, who was also known as an illustrator and printmaker. Charles was the second son of the wealthy businessma ...

* Willem Roelofs * Philip Sadée * Geraldine van de Sande Bakhuyzen *

Julius van de Sande Bakhuyzen Julius Jacobus van de Sande Bakhuyzen (18 June 1835, in The Hague – 21 October 1925, in The Hague) was a Dutch etcher and painter in the Hague School. He was a member of a number of artists' associations, such as Arti et Amicitiae and Pulchri ...

Hendrik Jacobus Scholten Hendrik Jacobus Scholten (11 July 1824, Amsterdam – 29 May 1907, Heemstede), was a 19th-century painter from the Netherlands. Biography According to the RKD he was a pupil of Petrus Franciscus Greive and Lambertus Johannes Hansen.

* Johann Georg Schwartze *

Thérèse Schwartze Thérèse Schwartze (20 December 185123 December 1918) was a Dutch portrait painter. Life Thérèse Schwartze was born on 20 December 1851 in Amsterdam in the Netherlands. She was the daughter of the painter Johan Georg Schwartze, who grew u ...

* Pauline Suij * Thamine Tadama-Groeneveld *

Jan Toorop Johannes Theodorus 'Jan' TooropJan Toorop
Kees Verschuren * Wouterus Verschuur * Floris Verster *

Hubert Vos Hubert Vos (February 15, 1855 – January 8, 1935) was a Dutch painter who was born Josephus Hubertus Vos in Maastricht. He studied at the Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts in Brussels and with Fernand Cormon in Paris. He exhibited widely in Pa ...

* Marie Wandscheer * Herman Johannes van der Weele * * Johannes Cornelis Wienecke * Jan Hillebrand Wijsmuller *

Abraham Willet Abraham Willet (1825 – 1888) was a Dutch art collector and amateur painter. Willet was born in Amsterdam and married Louisa Holthuysen on 17 July 1861.Abraham Willet in the RKD Willet was a member of Arti et Amicitiae. For years, his art col ...

* Ernst Witkamp *

Elsa Woutersen-van Doesburgh Elsa Woutersen-van Doesburgh (1875-1957) was a Dutch people, Dutch artist. Biography Woutersen-van Doesburgh née van Doesburgh was born on 7 December 1875 in Amsterdam. She attended the ''Quellinusschool'', the ''Académie des Beaux-Arts'' in ...

Willem de Zwart Wilhelmus "Willem" Hendrikus Petrus Johannes de Zwart (16 May 1862 The Hague – 11 December 1931 The Hague) was a Dutch painter, engraver, and watercolorist with many connections to the Hague School and later associated with the Amsterda ...

The society awarded medals to young talents and the list of the winners

* Jo Bauer * Willem van den Berg, * Jeanne Bieruma Oosting * Henri Frédéric Boot * * * Ed Dukkers * *

* * * * Paul Husner * Germ de Jong * Jan Kagie *

Otto B. de Kat Otto Boudewijn de Kat (7 June 1907 in Dordrecht – 30 April 1995 in Laren, North Holland, Laren), was a Dutch painter and art critic. Biography He was born in Dordrecht, but received his training in Haarlem as a pupil of Henri Frédéric Bo ...

Hein Kever Jacob Simon Hendrik Kever, known as Hein (19 June 1854 in Amsterdam – 29 April 1922 in Amsterdam) was a Dutch genre and still-life painter; associated with the Laren School. Biography He was born into a wealthy family. He showed little abil ...

* * Willemina Johanna Alberta Knottenbelt.List of Art-medaille winners
in the RKD * Ger Langeweg * * *

* * Arie van Mever * Dirk Berend Nanninga * * * Geo Poggenbeek * Hans Royaards * * * Gerhard Westermann

Notes

References

* Een vereenigung van ernstige kunstenaars (1989): ''150 jaar maatschappij Arti et Amicitae'', 1839–1989, * Monnickendam, M.; Rohling, F.V.A.; Sluyters,; Rueter, G. (1939): ''Premie-Uitgave ter gelegenheid van het 100 jarig bestaan der maatschappij Arti et Amicitae 1839–1939'' {{Authority control Buildings and structures in Amsterdam 19th century in Amsterdam Rijksmonuments in Amsterdam Cultural infrastructure completed in 1855 Dutch artist groups and collectives Art societies