''The Great Theatre of Dutch Painters and Paintresses'', or ''De groote schouburgh der Nederlantsche konstschilders en schilderessen'', as it was originally known in Dutch, is a series of artist biographies with engraved portraits written by the 18th-century painter

Arnold Houbraken Arnold Houbraken (28 March 1660 – 14 October 1719) was a Dutch painter and writer from Dordrecht, now remembered mainly as a biographer of Dutch Golden Age painters. Life Houbraken was sent first to learn ''threadtwisting'' (Twyndraat) fr ...

. It was published in three volumes as a sequel to

Karel van Mander Karel van Mander (I) or Carel van Mander I (May 1548 – 2 September 1606) was a Flemish painter, poet, art historian and art theoretician, who established himself in the Dutch Republic in the latter part of his life. He is mainly remembe ...

's own list of biographies known as the ''

Schilder-boeck or is a book written by the Flemish writer and painter Karel van Mander first published in 1604 in Haarlem in the Dutch Republic, where van Mander resided. The book is written in 17th-century Dutch and its title is commonly translated into Engl ...

''. The first volume appeared in 1718, and was followed by the second volume in 1719, the year Houbraken died. The third and last volume was published posthumously by Houbraken's wife and children in 1721. This work is considered to be a very important source of information on 17th-century artists of the Netherlands. The ''Schouburg'' is listed as one of the 1000 most important works in the

Canon of Dutch Literature Canon or Canons may refer to: Arts and entertainment * Canon (fiction), the conceptual material accepted as official in a fictional universe by its fan base * Literary canon, an accepted body of works considered as high culture ** Western can ...

from the Middle Ages to today.

Background and influence

The ''Schouburg'' was not the first sequel to Karel van Mander's work. Various authors had attempted to illustrate Van Mander's work and in 1649, Jan Meyssen published ''Image de divers hommes'' in imitation of

Anthony van Dyck Sir Anthony van Dyck (, many variant spellings; 22 March 1599 – 9 December 1641) was a Brabantian Flemish Baroque artist who became the leading court painter in England after success in the Southern Netherlands and Italy. The seventh c ...

's ''Iconography''.

Cornelis de Bie Cornelis de Bie (10 February 1627 – ) was a Flemish '' rederijker'', poet, jurist and minor politician from Lier. He is the author of about 64 works, mostly comedies. He is known internationally today for his biographical sketches of Flemish ...

published his ''

Het Gulden Cabinet ''Het Gulden Cabinet vande Edel Vry Schilder-Const'' or ''The Golden Cabinet of the Noble Liberal Art of Painting'' is a book by the 17th-century Flemish notary and ''Chamber of rhetoric, rederijker'' Cornelis de Bie published in Antwerp. Writte ...

'' in 1662,

André Félibien André Félibien (May 161911 June 1695), ''sieur des Avaux et de Javercy'', was a French chronicler of the arts and official court historian to Louis XIV of France. Biography Félibien was born at Chartres. At the age of fourteen he went to Pa ...

published his ''Entretiens sur les vies et sur les ouvrages des plus excellents peintres anciens et modernes'' in 1666, and these were followed by Jacob von Sandrart's illustrated ''Teutsche Akademie'' in 1668. Houbraken was very familiar with ''Inleyding tot de Hooge Schoole der Schilderkonst'', 1678, published by his teacher

Samuel van Hoogstraten Samuel Dirksz van Hoogstraten (2 August 1627, in Dordrecht – 19 October 1678, in Dordrecht) was a Dutch painter of the Golden Age, who was also a poet and author on art theory. Biography Samuel Dirksz van Hoogstraten trained first with his fat ...

for students of art.

Roger de Piles Roger de Piles (7 October 1635 – 5 April 1709) was a French painter, engraver, art critic and diplomat. Life Born in Clamecy, Roger de Piles studied philosophy and theology, and devoted himself to painting. In 1662 he became tutor to Miche ...

published ''L'Abrégé de la vie des peintres'' in the 1690s followed by Florent le Comte with his ''Cabinet des singularitez'' in 1699. As a gifted engraver, Houbraken wished to correct mistakes and omissions in these earlier works, while updating biographies with engraved portraits of artists. All of these works were used as sources for Houbraken and he mentions them in the first chapter of his first volume. The ''Schouburg'' was published in three volumes, the first of which was simply meant as an addendum to Karel van Mander's work, and listed about 200 artists born between 1466 (starting with

Erasmus Desiderius Erasmus Roterodamus (; ; English: Erasmus of Rotterdam or Erasmus;''Erasmus'' was his baptismal name, given after St. Erasmus of Formiae. ''Desiderius'' was an adopted additional name, which he used from 1496. The ''Roterodamus'' wa ...

) and 1613 (ending with Jacques van Artois) that had been omitted or whose lives extended beyond Van Mander's 1604 publication date. The popularity of this volume was such that a second volume was prepared immediately, while plans were made to continue the project up to the period in which Houbraken was writing at the start of the 18th century. While leaning heavily on the sources already mentioned, Houbraken also consulted local history books of various cities in the Netherlands. Other, unpublished sources for his material came from various contacts via his professional network, mostly members of St. Luke Guilds in Holland. He listed many men who became members of the

Bentvueghels The Bentvueghels (Dutch for "Birds of a Feather") were a society of mostly Dutch and Flemish artists active in Rome from about 1620 to 1720. They are also known as the Schildersbent ("painters' clique"). Activities The members, which included ...

group in

Rome , established_title = Founded , established_date = 753 BC , founder = King Romulus (legendary) , image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg , map_caption ...

while on their

Grand Tour The Grand Tour was the principally 17th- to early 19th-century custom of a traditional trip through Europe, with Italy as a key destination, undertaken by upper-class young European men of sufficient means and rank (typically accompanied by a tuto ...

, but he also listed most of the men in a competency list drawn up by

Vincent van der Vinne Vincent Laurensz van der Vinne (1628–1702) was a Dutch Mennonite painter, linen-weaver, and writer. Biography Van der Vinne was born, lived and worked in Haarlem and was a student of Frans Hals for nine months in 1647.

before he died in 1702. Houbraken kept to a system of importance where capitals meant very important, and lower case were honorable mentions. Though the capitalized names were meant for the index, the index of the first volume was far from complete at the time of publication. A later edition of all three books in 1756 contains an improved index and this book is now available online in the

Digital library for Dutch literature The Digital Library for Dutch Literature (Dutch: Digitale Bibliotheek voor de Nederlandse Letteren or DBNL) is a website (showing the abbreviation as dbnl) about Dutch language and Dutch literature. It contains thousands of literary texts, second ...

Volume I

The engraved portraits included as illustrations in Volume I are below, followed by the artists listed in order of appearance in the text. The first illustration is of Houbraken himself. File:Schouburg I PlateTitleprint with Otto van Veen.jpg, V1 Titlepage with Otto van Veen File:Arnold Houbraken3.JPG, Portrait of Arnold Houbraken, by his son Jacob File:Schouburg I Plate A - Johan Snellinx - David Jorisz - Erasmus.jpg, V1 plate A, p 16 Desid. Erasmus. Dav. Joris. Johan Snellings. File:Schouburg I Plate B - Dirck and Wouter Crabeth.jpg, V1 plate B, p 26 Dirk Crabet. Wouter Crabet. File:Schouburg I Plate C-Abraham Bloemaert - Adam Elsheimer - Adam van Oort.jpg, V1 plate C, p 44 Abr. Bloemaart. Ad. Elshaimer. Ad. van Oort. File:Schouburg I Plate D- Rubens- Hendrik van Balen - Roelant Savery.jpg, V1 plate D, p 62 P.P. Rubbens. Hendr. van Balen. Roel. Savry. File:Schouburg I Plate E- Frans Snijders- Jan Breughel - Cornelis Schut.jpg, V1 plate E, p 84 Fr. Snyders. Jan Breugel. Korn. Schut. File:Schouburg I Plate F - Frans Hals- Wencelas Coebergher - Lucas van Uden - Wybrand de Geest.jpg, V1 plate F, p 90 Fr. Hals. Wensl. Koebergen. Luc. van Uden. Wybr. de Geest. File:Schouburg I Plate G - Cornelis Poelenburgh - Daniel Seghers - Johannes Torenttius - Pieter de Valck.jpg, V1 plate G, p 128 Korn. Poelenburg. Dan. Segers. J. Torentius. P. Valk. File:Schouburg I Plate H - Jacob Jordaens - Jan van Goyen.jpg, V1 plate H, p 154 Jaques Jordaans. Jan van Goijen. File:Schouburg I Plate I Leonard Bramer - Dirk van Hoogstraten - Salomon de Bray.jpg, V1 plate I, p 164 L. Bramer. Dirk. v. Hoogstraten. Salom. de Bray. File:Schouburg I Plate K - Anthony van Dijk and Jan Davidsz de Heem.jpg, V1 plate K, p 183 Ant. van Dyk. Jan de Heem. File:Schouburg I Plate L - Philips de Champagne - Pieter Jansz van Asch - Jan van Bronkhorst.jpg, V1 plate L, p 225 Phil. Champanje. P.J.v. Asch. Jan v. Bronkhorst. File:Schouburg plaat met Rembrandt Schurman en Backer.JPG, V1 plate M, p 272 Ann. Maria Schuurmans. Jak. Bakker. . File:Schouburg I Plate N Jan Lievens - Palamedes Palamedesz - Erasmus Quellinus.jpg, V1 plate N, p 294 Jan Lievens. Palamedes. Erasm. Quellinus. File:Schouburg I Plate O Adriaen Brouwer - Juriaan Ovens - Cornelis Bega.jpg, V1 plate O, p 326 Adr. Brouwer. Jurj. Ovens. Korn. Bega. File:Schouburg I Plate P Herman and Cornelis Zachtleven - David Teniers.jpg, V1 plate P, p 342 Herm. Zachtleven. Korn. Zachtleven. Dav. Teniers. File:Schouburg I Plate Q Adriaenvan Ostade.jpg, V1 plate Q, p 348 Adriaan van Ostade. File:Schouburg I Plate R Otto Marseus van Schriek - Pieter van Laer - Nicolas van Helt Stockade.jpg, V1 plate R, p 358 Ott. Marcelis. Piet. v. Laar. Nikol. de Helt Stokade * Desiderius Erasmus

* David Joris

* Cornelis Antonisz

* Jan de Hoey

* Bernard van Orley

* Michael Coxcie

*

Dirk Crabeth Dirk (or Dirck) Pietersz Crabeth (1501–1574) was a Dutch Renaissance glass painter, tapestry designer, and mapmaker. He was employed by the Janskerk (Gouda) during the 16th century, where he created eight of the stained glass windows during th ...

& Wouter Crabeth I

* Dirk de Vrye

* Joan Dac

* Johannes Snellinks

* Isaac Nicolai

* Adam van Noort

* Otto van Veen

* Jan de Waal

* Adrian Nieuwland

* Abraham Bloemaart

* Tobias Verhaeght

* Michael Mierevelt

* Paulus Moreelse

* Jan van Kuik Woutersze

* Sebastiaan Franks

* Adam Elshaimer

* Lucas Franchoys the Elder

* Hendrik Gaud

* Roelant Savry

* Adam Willaarts

* Aart Druivestein

* Jacob Willemsz Delff

* Petrus Paulus Rubens

* Pieter Soutman

* Samuel Hofman

* Jan van Hoek

* Marten Pepyn

* Abraham Janszen

* Horatius Gentilesco

* Hendrik van Balen

* Frans Snyders

* Joan Breugel

* Adrian van Stalbemt

* Daniel Blok

* Frans Hals

* Deodatus del Mont

* Pieter Lastman

* David Teniers

* Hendrik van der Borght

* Wencelaus Koeberger

* David Baili

* Pieter de Valk

* Willem van der Vliet

* Guiliam Nieulandt

* Christiaan Jansz van Biezelingen

* Gasper de Krayer

* Cornelis Poelenburg

* Alexander Keerings

* Joris van Schoten

* Nestus Thoman

* Pieter Feddes

* Hendrik Terbruggen

* Adrian van der Venne

* Johan Torrentius

* Daniel Seghers

* Adriaan van Linschoten

* Lucas de Waal

* Wybrand de Geest

* Gerard Honthorst

* Peter Snayers

* Adrian de Bie

* Christoffel Schovarts

* Cornelis de Wael

* Jacques Jordaens

* Hendrik Berckman

* Lucas van Uden

* Dirk van Hoogstraten

* Jacques Francart

* Pieter Mierevelt

* Leonard Bramer

* Jan van der Brugge

* Jan van Goyen

* Pieter Pietersz Deneyn

* Roelant Rogman

* Pieter Saenredam

* Salomon de Bray

* Adrian van Uitrecht

* Hubertus Grimani

* Anthony van Dyk

* Jodocus de Momper

* Johannes van Ravesteyn,

Cornelis de Vos Cornelis de Vos (1584 – 9 May 1651) was a Flemish painter, draughtsman and art dealer. He was one of the leading portrait painters in Antwerp and is best known for his sensitive portraits, in particular of children and families. He was a ...

, Adam de Koster,

Daniel Mytens Daniel is a masculine given name and a surname of Hebrew origin. It means "God is my judge"Hanks, Hardcastle and Hodges, ''Oxford Dictionary of First Names'', Oxford University Press, 2nd edition, , p. 68. (cf. Gabriel—"God is my strength"), ...

, Artus Wolfart, Theodorus van Loon

* Jan Lis

* Joan de Heem

* Johan Parcellus

* Jan Pinas & Jacob Pinas

* Pieter de Molijn

* Warnard van den Valkert

* Remigius van Rheni

* Lowys de Vadder

* Marten Rykaard

* Andries van Artvelt

* Jacob van Es

* Willem Backereel & Gillis Bakkereel

* Joannes Wildens

* Pieter van de Plas

* Jacobus de Geest

* Pieter Neefs

* Theodoor Babuer

* Cristoffel van der Laan & Jacob van der Laan

* Hendrik de Klerk

* Anthoni Salart

* Justus van Egmont

* Philips de Champanje

* Pieter Koek van Aelst

*

Evert van Aelst Evert van Aelst, sometimes known as Everard Aalst, (1602 in Delft – 19 February 1657 in Delft) was a Dutch still life painter. Van Aelst was the uncle and teacher of Willem van Aelst. Both were famous for their still life paintings of game, ...

& Willem van Aelst

* Jan van Bronkhorst

* Nicolaes Knufter

* Johannis Cossiers

* Simon de Vos

* Joan Bylert

* Pieter van Asch

* Kristiaen van Kouwenberch

* Daniel van Heil

* Jacob Gerritsz. Cuyp

* Aelbert Cuyp

* Pieter Dankers de Ry

* Peter Franchoys

*

Luigi Primo Louis Cousin, in Italy mainly known as Luigi Primo or Luigi Gentile (c. 1605–1667) was a Flemish painter of the Baroque period, who was active in Italy for a major part of his career. Working in a style, which combined his Flemish roots with ...

(Ludowicu

*

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 consid ...

br>
* Paudiss

* Frans Wulfhagen

* Juriaan Ovens

* Monniks (Moni

* Jan van den Velde

* Esaias van den Velde

* Joachim von Sandrart

* Emanuel de Witt

* Pieter van der Willigen

* Abraham van Diepenbeek

* Jan T. van Ieperen

* Theodoor van Tulden

* Paulus de Vos

* Erasmus Quellinus II

* Carel Erpard

* Jan Lievens

* Ferdinand Bol

* Palamedes Palamedesz Stevers

* Anna Maria van Schurman

* Margarita Godewyk

* Adriaen Brouwer

* Joost van Craasbeek

* Jacob Bakker

* Bartram de Fouchier

* Herman Zachtleven

* Cornelis Zachtleven

* Willem van Bemmel

* Salomon Koning

* Jan Baptist van Heil

* Robert van Hoek

* David Teniers

*

Adriaen van Ostade Adriaen van Ostade (baptized as Adriaen Jansz Hendricx 10 December 1610 – buried 2 May 1685) was a Dutch Golden Age painter of genre works, showing everyday life of ordinary men and women. Life According to Arnold Houbraken, he and his brot ...

& Isaac van Ostade

* Cornelis Bega

* Leendert van der Koogen

* Willem van den Velde

* Johannes Mytens

* Emelraad

* Pieter Janszen

* Thomas Willeborts Bossaertbr>
* Otto Marcelis

* Pieter van Laar

* Nicolas de Helt Stokade

* Abraham Willaerts

* Jacques van Artois

Volume II

The engraved portraits included as illustrations in Volume II are below, followed by the artists listed in order of appearance in the text. File:Schouburg Plate A - Gerard Dou and Bartolomeus van der Helst.jpg, V2 plate A, p 1 Gerard Dou. Bartolom, vander Helst. File:Schouburg Plate B- Govert Flinck - Peter Lely and Philip Koning.jpg, V2 plate B, p 19 Govert Flink. Pieter Lely. Philip Koning. File:Schouburg Plate C- Jan Weenix- David Beck- Simon Peter Tilmans and Hendrik Zorg.jpg, V2 plate C, p 79 Jan Bapt. Weeninx. David Beck. Sim. Pet. Tilmans. Hendr. Zorg. File:Schouburg Plate D- Allaert van Everdingen and Adam Pijnacker.jpg, V2 plate D, p 96 Aldert van Everdingen. Adam Pynaker. File:Schouburg Plate E- Gerbrand van den Eekhout and Wallerant and Jaques Vaillant.jpg, V2 plate E, p 101 Gerbr. vanden Eekhout. Wallerant Vaillant. Jaques Vaillant. File:Schouburg Plate F- Paulus Potter and Jacob van der Does.jpg, V2 plate F, p 127 Paulus Potter. Jakob vander Does. File:Schouburg Plate G- Johan Lingelbach en Samuel en Jan van Hoogstraten.jpg, V2 plate G, p 170 Johann. Lingelbag. Samuel van Hoogstraten. Jan van Hoogstraten. File:Schouburg Plate H - Jacob Houbraken - Hendrick Verschuuring en Willem Kalf.jpg, V2 plate H, p 179 Hendr. Verschuring. Willem Kalf. File:Schouburg Plate I - Ludolf Bakhuizen and Vincent van der Vinne.jpg, V2 plate I, p 245 Ludolf Bakhuizen. Vincent vander Vinne. File:Schouburg Plate K - Johan Hendrik Roos and Juriaan van Streek.jpg, V2 plate K, p 277 Johan Hendrik Roos. Juriaan van Streek. * Gerrit Dou

* Nicolas van der Hek

* Marten Heemskerk van der Hek

* Bartholomeus van der Helst

* Jacques Wabbe

* Jan Albertsz Roodtseus

* Bonaventuur Peeters

* Franciscus Wouters

* David Rykaert

* Lucas Franchoys the Younger

* Frans Menton

* Mathys van den Berg

* Thomas van Wyk

* Govert Flink

* Pieter Pietersz Nedek

* Nicolas Latombe

* Hans Jordaans

* Gillis Schagen

* Ludolf de Jong

* Pieter de Hoogh

* Gonzalo Coques

*

Peter Lely Sir Peter Lely (14 September 1618 – 7 December 1680) was a painter of Dutch origin whose career was nearly all spent in England, where he became the dominant portrait painter to the court. Life Lely was born Pieter van der Faes to Dutch ...

br>
* Juriaan Jacobze

* Robert van Hoeck

* Antoni Waterloo

* Jan Philip van Thielen

* Carel van Savoyen

* Philip de Koninck

* Zacharias Paulusz

* Jacob Delff

* Jan Babtist van Duinen

* Adrian Verdoel

* Jan de Groot

* Philip Wouwerman

* Jan Baptista Weeninx

* David Beck

* Joan Couper

* Gelsdorf

* Simon Peter Tilmans

* Hendrik Martensz

* Jan Duive

* Dirk Meerkerk

* Jacob Reugers Blok

* Jan Donker & Pieter Donker

* Cesar van Everdingen

* Jan van Everdingen

* Albert van Everdingen

* Adam Pynaker

* Cornelis de Man

* Gerbrant van den Eekhout

* Joris van Son

* Emanuel Murant

* Wallerant Vaillant

* Jacob van der Does

* Theodor Helmbreker

* Nicolas Berchem

*

Jan Both Jan Dirksz Both (between 1610 and 1618 - August 9, 1652) was a Dutch painter, draughtsman, and etcher, who made an important contribution to the development of Dutch Italianate landscape painting. Biography Both was born in Utrecht, and was ...

& Andries Both

* Johan Torrentius

* Paulus Potter

* Hercules Segers

* Johannes van Kessel

* Johannes Peeters

* Peter Boel

* Joannes van Heck

* Philippus Fruytiers

* Antonius Goebouw & Franciscus de Neve

* Joannes Fyt

* Peeter Tysens

* Gerrit van Hoochstadt

* Gysbrecht Thys

* Johannes Lingelbag

* Jan Worst

* Willem van Drillenburg

* Jacob Lavecq

* Samuel van Hoogstraten

* Mathias Withoos

* Hendrik Graauw

* Pieter van Roestraten

* Hendrik Verschuring

* Willem Verschuring

* Jacob van der Ulft

* Jan Teunisz Blankhof

* Barent Graat

* Josef Oostfries

* Klaas van der Meulen

* Katharina Oostfries

* Jan Slob

* Vincent van der Vinne

* Maria van Oosterwijck

* Geertje Pieters

* Willem Kalf

* Cornelis Bisschop

* Jacobus Bisschop

* Abraham Bisschop

* Peter van Breda

* Janson van Keulen

* Gerard Pieterz van Zyl

* Michiel Willemans

* Willem Doudyns

* Ary van der Kabel

* Ludolf Bakhuizen

* Benjamin Blok

* Anna Katrina

* Kristoffel Pierson

* Bartholemeus Meyburg

* Katharina Rozee

* Willem Schellinks

* Nicolaes Maes

* Johan Hendrik Roos

* Filip Roosbr>
* Theodor Roos

* Juriaan van Streek

* Hendrik van Streek

* Carel Emanuel Biset

* Ottomar Elger

* Gerard Uilenburg

* Jan de Baan

* Jacobus de Baan

* Willem van den Velde

* Frederik de Moucheron

* Pieter Gallis

* Gasper van den Bos

* Adam Frans van der Meulen

* Joan G. Bouwer

* Cornelis Kik

* Cornelis Brizé

*

Frans Post Frans Janszoon Post (17 November 1612 – 17 February 1680) was a painter during the Dutch Golden Age. He was the first European artist to paint landscapes of the Americas, during and after the period of Dutch Brazil In 1636 he traveled to ...

br>
* Johan van Nes

* Jan van Hoeck

* Pieter Frits

Volume III

The engraved portraits included as illustrations in Volume III are below, followed by the artists listed in order of appearance in the text. File:Schouburg3 Plate A p6 1-Frans van Mieris 2-Jan Steen.jpg, V3 plate A, p 6 Frans van Mieris. Jan Steen. File:Schouburg3 Plate B p40 3-Gerard ter Burg 4-Gabriel Mitzu 5-Karel de Jardyn 6-Gillis de Hondekoeter.jpg, V3 plate B, p 40 Gerard ter Burg. Gabriel Mitzu. Karel de JardynGillis de Hondekoeter. File:Schouburg3 Plate C p64 7-Jan Asselyn 8-Heyman Dullaart 9-Jan van Pée 10-Melch. de Hondekoeter.jpg, V3 plate C, p 64 Jan Asselyn. Heyman Dullaart. Jan van Pée. Melch. de Hondekoeter File:Schouburg3 Plate D p96 11-Abraham Genoels 12-Adrian van den Velde.jpg, V3 plate D, p 96 Abraham Genoels. Adr. van den Velde. File:Schouburg3 Plate E p110 13-Gerard de Laires 14-Bartolet.jpg, V3 plate E, p 110 Gerard de Laires. Bartolet. File:Schouburg3 Plate F p164 15-Jakob Torenvliet 16-Michiel van Musscher.jpg, V3 plate F, p 164 Jakob Torenvliet. Mich.van Musscher. File:Schouburg3 Plate G p176 17-Godefridus Schalken 18-Philip Tideman.jpg, V3 plate G, p 176 Godefridus Schalken. Philip Tideman. File:Schouburg3 Plate H p212 19-Joan de Biskop 20-Johannes Voorhout.jpg, V3 plate H, p 212 Joan de Biskop. Johannes Voorhout, File:Schouburg3 Plate I p220 21-Maria Sybille Merian 22-David vander Plaas.jpg, V3 plate I, p 220 Maria Sybille Merian. David vander Plaas. File:Schouburg3 Plate K p234 23-Godfried Kneller 24-Gerard Hoet.jpg, V3 plate K, p 234 Godfried Kneller. Gerard Hoet. File:Schouburg3 Plate L p248 25-Mathys Wulfraat 26-Augustinus ter Westen.jpg, V3 plate L, p 248 Mathys Wulfraat. Augustinus ter Westen. File:Schouburg3 Plate M p282 27-Johannes Verkolje 28-Abraham Hondius.jpg, V3 plate M, p 282 Johannes Verkolje. Abraham Hondius. File:Schouburg3 Plate N p294 29 Johanna Koerten.jpg, V3 plate N, p 294 Johanna Koerten. File:Schouburg3 Plate O p388 30 Adriaan vander Werf.jpg, V3 plate O, p 388 Adriaan vander Werf. File:Schouburg3 Plate P p189 31-Casparus Netscher 32-Job Berckheiden 33-Gerrit Berckheiden.jpg, V3 plate P, p 189 Casparus Netscher. Job Berckheiden. Gerrit Berckhnden. * Frans van Mieris

* Jan Steen

* Jan Linsen

* Gabriel Metzu

* Johannes Spilberg

* Wilhelm Breekvelt

* Jan Hakkert

* Pieter van Anraat

* J Weyerman

* Rombout van Trojen

* Carel de Jardyn

*

Willem Drost Willem Drost (baptized 19 April 1633 – buried 25 February 1659) was a Dutch Golden Age painter and printmaker of history paintings and portraits. Biography He is a mysterious figure, closely associated with Rembrandt, with very few pain ...

, van Terlee & Willem de Poorter

* Jacob Gellig

* Spalthof & Broers

* Martinus Zaagmolen

* Johannes Buns

* Jan Asselyn

*

Jacob van Ruisdael Jacob Isaackszoon van Ruisdael (; 1629 – 10 March 1682) was a Dutch painter, draughtsman, and etcher. He is generally considered the pre-eminent landscape painter of the Dutch Golden Age, a period of great wealth and cultural achi ...

& Salomon van Ruisdael

* Ludowyk Smits

* Melchior de Hondekoeter

* Mathys Harings

* Johan van Neck

* Johan Visscher

* Heiman Dullaart

* Joan van der Heyden

* Abraham Minjon

* Isak Ducart

* Justus van Pee

* Cornelis Cornelisz

* Adrian van den Velde

* Dirk van Bergen

* Gasper Netscher

* Abraham Genoels

* Anna Maria, Françoise Katharina, and Maria Theresa van Thielen

* Gerard de Laires

* Barent Appelman

* Pieter van Slingelant

* Ary de Vois

* Jacob Torenvliet

* Isaac Paling

* Johannes van Haansbergen

* Eglon van der Neer

* Godfrid Schalken

* Gabriel van der Leeuw

* Abraham van Kalraat

* Jan van Aken

* Pieter Molyn

* Dirk Freres

* Adriaan Bakker

* Horatius Paulyn

* Gysbert Verhoek

* Job Berkheyde & Gerard Berkheyde

* Johannes Vorstermans

* Johan Soukens

* Joris van der Haagen

* Francisco Milet

* Arent de Gelder

* Joan Baptist de Champanje

* Albert Meyering

* Michiel van Musscher

* Joan de Biskop

* Ary Huibertsz Verveer

* Hubert van Ravestein

* Johannes Glauber

* Jan Gotlief Glauber

* Maria Sybille Merian

* Johannes Voorhout

* Mathys Neveu

* Jacob Denys

* David van der Plaas

* Daniel Syder

*

Godfried Kneller Sir Godfrey Kneller, 1st Baronet (born Gottfried Kniller; 8 August 1646 – 19 October 1723), was the leading portrait painter in England during the late 17th and early 18th centuries, and was court painter to English and British monarchs fr ...

& Johan Zacharias Kneller

* Jan van Kessel

* Gerard Hoet

* Johannes Bronkhorst

* Abraham Diepraam

* Josef Mulder

* Mathys Wulfraat

* Johan van Hugtenburgh

* Jacob Moelaert

* Jan Luiken

* Romein de Hooge

* Jan van Nikkelen

* Augustinus Terwesten

* Johannes Verkolje

* Ugaart Delvenaar & Jacob Koning

* Johannes van der Bent

* Pieter Reuven

* Matheus Wytman

* Marienhof

* Johan van der Meerbr>
* Barent van Kalraat

* Johanna Koerten

* Rochus van Veen

* Dirk van Delen

* Abraham de Heusch

* Cornelis van der Meulen

* Johan Starrenberg

* Jacob de Wolf

* Guilhelmo van Ingen

* Nicolas de Vree

* Abraham Hondius

* Francoys Dancx

* Jan van Alen

* Abraham Stork

* David Colyns

* Barent Gaal

* Isaac Koene

* Pieter van der Hulst

* Pieter Peuteman

* Jan Klaasz Rietschoof

* Hendrik Rietschoof

* Cornelis Holstein

* Simon van der Does

* Theodorus & Christoffel Lubienietzky

* Jan Hoogzaat

* Carel Fabritius

* Johan van Bunnik

* Carel de Moor

* Jan Frans van Douven

* Simon Germyn

* Willem Beurs

* John Closterman

* Jan Griffier

* Cornelis Huysmans

* Willem Wissing

* Guiliam de Heus

* Jacob de Heus

* Philip Tideman

* Ernst Stuven

* Elias van den Broek

* Laurens van der Vinne

* Paulus van Hillegaart & Pieter de Ruelles

* Jacob van Campen

* Hendrik Carree

* Bernart Schendel

* Antony Vreem

* Dirk Dalens

* Michiel Maddersteg

* Justus van Huisum

* Adrian van der Werf

Notable omissions

The absence from Houbraken's work of several painters who are now much more highly regarded than very many painters he considered noteworthy, is an interesting feature of the work, and reveals changes in taste since his time; the most notorious omission is

Jan Vermeer Johannes Vermeer ( , , see below; also known as Jan Vermeer; October 1632 – 15 December 1675) was a Dutch Baroque Period painter who specialized in domestic interior scenes of middle-class life. During his lifetime, he was a moderately succe ...

, who is mentioned once in passing. One must not forget however, that Houbraken himself died before publishing the final work, and he mentions again and again the impossibility of a complete list. In his first volume he includes painters that he complained were oversights by Karel van Mander, who he regarded as his greatest example. He highly respected all artist biographers who came before him, such as Sandrart, de Bie, and de Lairesse. In fact, Houbraken was quite keen to include painters that he thought were overlooked before him, and was quite thorough in his endeavors. Therefore, his omissions are equally the omissions of previous biographers, though it is Houbraken who receives all the blame. Unfortunately we don't know the exact state of his book at the time of his death, but his son Jacob, his daughter Antonina, and his wife all helped to patch things up for publication, and it is quite possible that their own opinions slipped into the finished work. In general, Houbraken tends to follow the contemporary prejudices of the

hierarchy of genres A hierarchy of genres is any formalization which ranks different genres in an art form in terms of their prestige and cultural value. In literature, the epic was considered the highest form, for the reason expressed by Samuel Johns ...

and undervalue landscapists,

marine artist Marine art or maritime art is a form of figurative art (that is, painting, drawing, printmaking and sculpture) that portrays or draws its main inspiration from the sea. Maritime painting is a genre that depicts ships and the sea—a genre part ...

s and painters of

still life A still life (plural: still lifes) is a work of art depicting mostly wikt:inanimate, inanimate subject matter, typically commonplace objects which are either natural (food, flowers, dead animals, plants, rocks, shells, etc.) or artificiality, m ...

. One can also speak of certain prejudices of the Houbraken family. These were in order: * Family dynasties: All painters who made up a family dynasty received extra space in the book. More space was given to the founder of the dynasty than to any other member (note that Houbraken considered himself the founder of his own family dynasty). An example is that though

Rachel Ruysch Rachel Ruysch (3 June 1664 – 12 October 1750) was a Dutch still-life painter from the Northern Netherlands. She specialized in flowers, inventing her own style and achieving international fame in her lifetime. Due to a long and successful care ...

was the most famous painter of her family, Houbraken devotes more space to her grandfather Pieter Post and his brother Frans. Similarly, though

Wouter Crabeth II Wouter Pietersz. Crabeth II (1594 – c. 18 June 1644) was a Dutch Golden Age painter. Biography Wouter Crabeth was born in Gouda in 1594, the son of the writer and politician Pieter Woutersz. Crabeth. He was named after his grandfather Wouter ...

was the most famous painter of the family, Houbraken devotes more space to his illustrious heritage in Gouda, the glass painters Dirk and Wouter. * Engravers: Houbraken had a business of his own in biographical engravings, and his large family probably all helped in the business, with his son and daughter helping with the oval portraits. Houbraken was quick to realize the importance of reprints, and used them whenever possible for art provenance. He highly respected good engravings. Therefore he was heavily prejudiced towards artists who were also good draftsmen and engravers, such as Rembrandt and the Visschers. He includes also notes about various publishers and engravers, who did not paint at all. * Rome: Houbraken had great respect for all artists who took the trouble and overcame many hardships to travel to Rome. He went to great pains to add entries for the entire list of painters mentioned in a poem about the

. * Flattery: As a Mennonite, Houbraken would have been against flattery; however, he writes again and again of the importance of flattering one's patrons in his books, and a recurring theme is when an artist fell onto bad times because he failed to flatter his patron. This type of artist is admired by Houbraken as a sort of "martyr to the artist's cause". Examples of flatterers that Houbraken deprecates are Anthony van Dyck and Sir Peter Lely followers, and his omissions speak for themselves if we note famous portrait painters of his day such as

Adriaen Hanneman Adriaen is a Dutch form of Adrian. Notable people with the name include: *Adriaen Banckert (1615–1684), Dutch admiral *Adriaen Block (1567–1627), Dutch private trader and navigator *Adriaen Brouwer (1605–1638), Flemish genre painter *Adriaen ...

Johannes Cornelisz Verspronck Johannes Cornelisz. Verspronck (between 1600 and 1603 – 30 June 1662 (buried)) was a Dutch Golden Age portrait painter from Haarlem. Life Johannes Cornelisz. Verspronck was born between 1600 and 1603 in Haarlem as the son of the painter Co ...

and

Thomas de Keyser Thomas de Keyser (c. 1596–1667) was a Dutch portrait painter, a dealer in Belgium bluestone and stone mason. He was the most in-demand portrait painter in the Netherlands until the 1630s, when Rembrandt eclipsed him in popularity. Rembrand ...

. Similarly, though architecture was considered one of the highest genre's, the popular "family portrait with a view of the house or garden" was omitted as a genre entirely from Houbraken's praise, since this just showed off the wealth of the sitters. Thus landscape-portraitists were often omitted or deprecated, such as

Hendrik van Steenwijk II Hendrik van Steenwijck II (also ''Steenwyck, Steinwick'') (c.1580–1640
at the RKD d ...

and his wife. * Religion: Certainly Houbraken included artists of all religions in his book, but we can say that Mennonites are over-represented (see his story on the Mennonite martyr Jan Woutersz van Cuyck), while Catholics are under-represented. These were the De Grebbers, the De Brays, the Ruisdael family, Jan Vermeer, Adriaen Coorte, Adriaen Hanneman, Johannes Cornelisz Verspronck, Hendrick Dubbels, Pieter Anthonisz. van Groenewegen,

Meindert Hobbema Meindert Lubbertszoon Hobbema (bapt. 31 October 1638 – 7 December 1709) was a Dutch Golden Age painter of landscapes, specializing in views of woodland, although his most famous painting, ''The Avenue at Middelharnis'' (1689, National Galler ...

, and others. Other notorious omissions are

Jan van de Cappelle Jan van de Cappelle (or Joannes / van der / Capelle in various combinations; 25 January 1626 (baptized) – 22 December 1679 (buried)) was a Dutch Golden Age painter of seascapes and winter landscapes, also notable as an industrialist and ...

Judith Leyster Judith Jans Leyster (also Leijster; baptised July 28, 1609Molenaer, JudithNational Gallery of Art website. Accessed February 1, 2014. – February 10, 1660) was a Dutch Golden Age painter of genre works, portraits, and still lifes. Her work was ...

, Jan Wynants, Jacobus Mancadan,

Hendrick Avercamp Hendrick Avercamp (January 27, 1585 (bapt.) – May 15, 1634 (buried)) was a Dutch painter during the Dutch Golden Age of painting. He was one of the earliest landscape painters of the 17th-century Dutch school, he specialized in painting th ...

, and others.Vermeer, Ruysch, and Leyster were mentioned, but only briefly. The subject is dealt with in ''Arnold Houbraken's "Groote Schouburgh" and the Canon of Seventeenth-Century Dutch Painting'', by Bart Cornelis, Simiolus: Netherlands Quarterly for the History of Art, Vol. 26, No. 3 (1998), pp. 144-161
JSTOR
/ref>

Schilderessen

Translated, the title of the book is ''Theatre of Painters and Paintresses'', indicating that Houbraken wrote about women painters, or ''schilderessen''. However, the list of women he included in the book is really quite short. Though he included short biographies of very many painters who were closely related to women painters, the only paintresses he included by name were:

Artemisia Gentileschi Artemisia Lomi or Artemisia Gentileschi (, ; 8 July 1593) was an Italian Baroque painter. Gentileschi is considered among the most accomplished seventeenth-century artists, initially working in the style of Caravaggio. She was producing profess ...

, Anna Francisca de Bruijns,

Mayken Verhulst Mayken Verhulst (1518–1596 or 1599), also known as Marie Bessemers,Greer, p. 26. was a sixteenth-century miniature, tempera and watercolor painter, identified by Lodovico Guicciardini in 1567 as one of the four most important female artists in ...

Anna Maria van Schurman Anna Maria van Schurman (November 5, 1607 – May 4, 1678) was a Dutch painter, engraver, poet, and scholar, who is best known for her exceptional learning and her defence of female education. She was a highly educated woman, who excelled in ...

Margaretha van Godewijk Margaretha van Godewijk (30 August 1627, Dordrecht – 2 November 1677, Dordrecht), was a Dutch Golden Age poet and painter. Biography According to Houbraken her father was a teacher at the Latin school in Dordrecht who taught her Greek, Latin, ...

Maria de Grebber Maria de Grebber (1602, Haarlem – 1680, Enkhuizen), was a Dutch Golden Age painter. Grebber was talented at depicting buildings and perspective.Pieter de Grebber Pieter Fransz de Grebber (c.1600–1652/3Between September 24, 1652, and January 29, 1653) was a Dutch Golden Age painter. Life De Grebber was born in Haarlem, the oldest son of Frans Pietersz de Grebber (1573–1643), a painter and embr ...

), Maria Potter,

Alida Withoos Alida Withoos (c. 1661/62 – 5 December 1730 (buried)) was a Dutch botanical artist and painter. She was the daughter of the painter Matthias Withoos. Life Alida Withoos was born in Amersfoort. With three brothers Johannes, Pieter, Frans, and ...

Catharina Oostfries Catharina Oostfries, or Trijntje Sieuwerts (1636–1708) was a Dutch Golden Age glass painter. Biography Oostfries was born in Nieuwkoop. According to Houbraken she kept up her drawing and glass painting into her seventies.

(from a glaspainting family, married glasspainter Claes van der Meulen),

Maria van Oosterwijck Maria van Oosterwijck, also spelled Oosterwyck, (1630–1693) was a Dutch Golden Age painter, specializing in richly detailed flower paintings and other still lifes. Life and work Maria van Oosterwijck was born in 1630 in Nootdorp, a town locat ...

, Geertgen Wyntges (who he mentions as being the servant of Maria van Oosterwijck), Anna Katrina,

Catharina Rozee Katharina, or Catharina Rozee (1632, Leiden – 1682, Leiden), was a Dutch Golden Age artist. She is remembered for her ability to create exceptionally realistic images in the medium of embroidery. Biography Rozee was born in the city of Leid ...

(1632–82),

Adriana Spilberg Adriana Spilberg (1652, Amsterdam – 1700, Düsseldorf), was a Dutch Golden Age painter active at the court of Johann Wilhelm, Elector Palatine.(Germancourt painters who worked at the court of Johan Wilhelm, according to the Dusseldorf museum ...

(daughter of Johannes Spilberg),

, the three sisters Anna Maria van Thielen, Françoise Katharina van Thielen, and

Maria Theresa van Thielen Maria Theresia van Thielen (7 March 1640 – 11 February 1706) was a Flemish Baroque painter.''Arnold Houbraken's Grosse Schouburgh Der Niederlandischen'' ''Maler'', Arnold Houbraken, 2008, p.342, Google BooksBGoogle-18C(German). Biography Ma ...

, Marie Duchatel, Diana Glauber,

Maria Sybilla Merian Maria Sibylla Merian (2 April 164713 January 1717) was a German naturalist and scientific illustrator. She was one of the earliest European naturalists to observe insects directly. Merian was a descendant of the Frankfurt branch of the Swiss Meri ...

, Margaretha Wulfraet, and Johanna Koerten Blok. Of these, he included illustrations of only three women: Schurman, Merian, and Koerten-Blok. Houbraken also mentioned two poetesses; Gesina Brit and

Catharina Questiers Catharina Questiers (21 November 16313 February 1669) was a Dutch poet and dramatist. Along with Cornelia van der Veer and Katharyne Lescailje she was the most successful female Dutch poet of the second half of the 17th century. Her brother Da ...

References

''Schouburg''
in the ''Digitale Bibliotheek der Nederlandse Letteren'' (''DBNL'', "

")
''Schouburg''
on

Google books Google Books (previously known as Google Book Search, Google Print, and by its code-name Project Ocean) is a service from Google Inc. that searches the full text of books and magazines that Google has scanned, converted to text using optical c ...

(Edition from 1721)

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Great Theatre of Dutch Painters 1718 books 1719 books 1721 books Art history books Biographies about artists Dutch biographical dictionaries Dutch biographies

Houbraken Houbraken is a Dutch-language surname. People with this surname include: *Antonina Houbraken Antonina Houbraken (30 May 1686 – December 1736) was an 18th-century Dutch draughtswoman who is known for her many topographical drawings of Dutc ...