Saenredam - Het oude stadhuis te Amsterdam

Architectural painting (also Architecture painting) is a form of

genre painting Genre painting (or petit genre), a form of genre art, depicts aspects of everyday life by portraying ordinary people engaged in common activities. One common definition of a genre scene is that it shows figures to whom no identity can be attache ...

where the predominant focus lies on architecture, including both outdoor and interior views. While architecture was present in many of the earliest paintings and illuminations, it was mainly used as background or to provide rhythm to a painting. In the Renaissance, architecture was used to emphasize the perspective and create a sense of depth, like in

Masaccio Masaccio (, , ; December 21, 1401 – summer 1428), born Tommaso di Ser Giovanni di Simone, was a Florentine artist who is regarded as the first great Italian painter of the Quattrocento period of the Italian Renaissance. According to Vasar ...

's ''

Holy Trinity The Christian doctrine of the Trinity (, from 'threefold') is the central dogma concerning the nature of God in most Christian churches, which defines one God existing in three coequal, coeternal, consubstantial divine persons: God th ...

'' from the 1420s. In Western art, architectural painting as an independent genre developed in the 16th century in Flanders and the Netherlands, and reached its peak in 16th and 17th century Dutch painting. Later, it developed in a tool for Romantic paintings, with e.g. views of ruins becoming very popular. Closely related genres are architectural fantasies and trompe-l'oeils, especially illusionistic ceiling painting, and

cityscape In the visual arts, a cityscape (urban landscape) is an artistic representation, such as a painting, drawing, Publishing, print or photograph, of the physical aspects of a city or urban area. It is the urban equivalent of a landscape. ''Town ...

Western artists specialized in architectural painting

16th century

Hans Vredeman de Vries - Architectural Landscape - WGA25387

The 16th century saw the development of architectural painting as a separate genre in Western art. The main centers in this period were Flanders and the Netherlands. The first important architectural painter was Dutch

Hans Vredeman de Vries Hans Vredeman de Vries (1527 – c. 1607) was a Dutch Renaissance architect, painter, and engineer. Vredeman de Vries is known for his publication in 1583 on garden design and his books with many examples on ornaments (1565) and perspective (1604 ...

(1527-1607), who was both an architect and a painter. Students of Hans Vredeman de Vries, both in Flanders and in the Netherlands, include his sons Salomon and Paul, and

Hendrik van Steenwijk I Hendrik van Steenwijck I (also ''Steenwyck'', ''Steenwijk'') (''c''. 1550 – buried 1 September 1603Hendrik ...

. Through them the genre was popularized and their family and students turned it into one of the main domains of

Dutch Golden Age painting Dutch Golden Age painting is the painting of the Dutch Golden Age, a period in Dutch history roughly spanning the 17th century, during and after the later part of the Eighty Years' War (1568–1648) for Dutch independence. The new Dutch Republ ...

Flanders

* Salomon Vredeman de Vries (1556-1604) *

Paul Vredeman de Vries Paul Vredeman de Vries (Antwerp, 1567 – Amsterdam, 1617), was a Flemish painter and draughtsman who specialised in architectural paintings and, in particular, church interiors. Life He was a son of the Dutch-born architect, painter and engin ...

(1567-1617) *

Hendrick Aerts Hendrick Aerts (alternative names: Hendrick Aertsz., Henricus Arijssel, Hendrik Arts, Henricus A. Rijssel) (probably Mechelen, between 1565 and 1575 - probably Gdańsk, January 1603) was a Flemish painter and draftsman who painted mainly architectu ...

(between 1565 and 1575 - 1603)

Netherlands

Hendrik van Steenwijk elder Antwerp cathedral

(1527–1607) *

Hendrik van Steenwijk I Hendrik van Steenwijck I (also ''Steenwyck'', ''Steenwijk'') (''c''. 1550 – buried 1 September 1603Hendrik ...

(1550–1603), the first to specialize in church interiors

17th century

Flanders

Pieter Neefs the Elder Pieter Neefs the Elder or Pieter Neeffs the Elder (c. 1578 in Antwerp – after 1656 before 1661 in Antwerp) was a Flemish painter who specialized in architectural interiors of churches. Active in Antwerp, he was influenced by the works of the Du ...

(1578-1656) *

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

(c.1580–1649) *

Lodewijck Neefs Ludovicus Neeffs (22 January 1617 – ''c''. 1649?) was a Flemish Baroque painter who specialized in architectural interiors of churches. He is the least known of the Neeffs family of painters that were active in Antwerp, and several works attribu ...

(1617-1649) * Wolfgang de Smet (1617–1685) *

Pieter Neefs the Younger Pieter Neefs the Younger or Pieter Neeffs the Younger (bapt. 23 May 1620 – after 1675) was a Flemish painter who mainly specialized in architectural interiors of churches.Frans Baudouin, "Neeffs," ''Grove Art Online'', Oxford University Press ...

(1620-1675) *

Erasmus de Bie Erasmus de Bie (1629–1675) was a Flemish Baroque painter known for his city views and genre scenes.Erasmus de Bie
at ...

(1629-1675), between cityscapes and architectural painting proper *

Wilhelm Schubert van Ehrenberg Wilhelm Schubert van Ehrenberg or Willem Schubart van Ehrenberg (also: Wilhem Schubert von Ehrenberg or Wilhem Schubert van Ehrenberg (Antwerp, 1630 or 1637– Antwerp, c. 1676) was a Flemish painter mainly active in Antwerp who specialized in a ...

(1630–c. 1676) *

Jacobus Ferdinandus Saey Jacobus Ferdinandus Saey or Jacob Ferdinand Saeys (1658 – after 1726) was a Flemish painter who specialized in architectural paintings depicting gallant companies amidst imaginary Renaissance and Baroque palaces and buildings. After starting h ...

(1658 – after 1726) *

Lievin Cruyl Lievin Cruyl or Lieven Cruyl (name variations: Levin Cruijl, Lievin Cruijl, Levin Cruyl, Livinus Cruylius, Cruylius Livinus) (5 September 1634 – before 1720) was a Flemish priest and a draughtsman and etcher of landscapes, seascapes, and archi ...

(1634-1720)

Italy

Fresco with Trompe l'oeuil - Andrea Pozzo -Jesuit Church Vienna

Viviano Codazzi Viviano Codazzi (c. 1604 – 5 November 1670) was an Italian architectural painter who was active during the Baroque period. He is known for his architectural paintings, capricci, compositions with ruins, and some ''vedute''. He worked in Na ...

(1606-1670) *

Ascanio Luciano Ascanio Luciano or Ascanio Luciani (1621 in Naples – 18 August 1706, in Naples) was an Italian architectural painter who was active during the Baroque period. He is known for his architectural paintings, capricci, compositions with figures a ...

(1621-1706) *

Andrea Pozzo Andrea Pozzo (; Latinized version: ''Andreas Puteus''; 30 November 1642 – 31 August 1709) was an Italian Jesuit brother, Baroque painter, architect, decorator, stage designer, and art theoretician. Pozzo was best known for his grandiose fresc ...

(1642-1709), mainly illusionistic paintings *

Luigi Quaini Luigi Quaini (1643–1717) was an Italian painter of the Baroque period. Biography He was born in Ravenna, and first learned the art of architectural perspective painting from his father, Francesco Quaini, a pupil of Agostino Mitelli. After ...

(1643-1717), not a pure architectural painter, but a contributor of architecture to other paintings

Netherlands

In the 17th century, architectural painting became one of the leading genres in the Dutch Golden Age, together with portrait painting and landscapes. Notable Dutch painter of the genre include: *

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

(1580-1649) *

Bartholomeus van Bassen Bartholomeus Corneliszoon van Bassen (1590–1652) was a Dutch Golden Age painter and architect. Biography Van Bassen was the illegitimate son of Cornelis van Bassen and the grandson of Bartholt Ernst van Bassen, who both lived and died in T ...

(1590-1652) * Pieter van der Stock (1593-1660) * Pieter Jansz. Saenredam (1597-1665) *

Gerard Houckgeest Gerard Houckgeest (c. 1600–August 1661) was a Dutch Golden Age painter of architectural scenes and church interiors. Biography Houckgeest is thought to have been born in The Hague, where, according to the RKD, he learned to paint from Bar ...

(1600-1661) * Susanna van Steenwijk (1601-1664) *

Dirck van Delen Dirck van Delen or Dirck Christiaensz van Delen (c. 1605 – 16 May 1671) was a Dutch painter who specialized exclusively in architectural paintings, principally depicting palace perspectives and church interiors. Life Van Delen was born in ...

(1605-1671) * Daniël de Blieck (c. 1610-1673) * Hendrick Cornelisz. van Vliet (1612-1675): mainly church interiors *

Emanuel de Witte Emanuel de Witte (1617–1692) was a Dutch perspective painter. In contrast to Pieter Jansz Saenredam, who emphasized architectural accuracy, De Witte was more concerned with the atmosphere of his interiors. Though few in number, de Witte al ...

(1617-1692) *

Job Adriaenszoon Berckheyde Job Adriaenszoon Berckheyde (baptized 27 January 1630 – before 23 November 1693) was a Dutch artist of the 17th century, active in Haarlem, Amsterdam, and The Hague. Biography Job Berckheyde was born in Haarlem and was the older brothe ...

(1630-1693) * Jan van der Heyden (1637-1712) *

Gerrit Adriaenszoon Berckheyde Gerrit Adriaenszoon Berckheyde (1638 – 10 June 1698) was a Dutch Golden Age painter, active in Haarlem, Amsterdam, and The Hague, who is best known today for his cityscapes. Biography Berckheyde was born and died in Haarlem. Christ ...

(1638-1698) *

Caspar van Wittel Caspar van Wittel or Gaspar van Wittel (born Jasper Adriaensz van Wittel; 1652 or 1653 – September 13, 1736), known in Italian as Gaspar Vanvitelli () or (), was a Dutch painter and draughtsman who had a long career in Rome. He played a ...

(1652 or 1653-1736)

18th century

France

* Jacques de Lajoue (1687-1761)

Italy

Architectural paintings, and the related

vedute A ''veduta'' (Italian for "view"; plural ''vedute'') is a highly detailed, usually large-scale painting or, more often, print of a cityscape or some other vista. The painters of ''vedute'' are referred to as ''vedutisti''. Origins This genr ...

or cityscapes, were especially popular in 18th century Italy. Another genre closely related to architectural painting proper were the capriccios, fantasies set in and focusing on an imaginary architecture. *

Stefano Orlandi Stefano Orlandi (1681 – 29 July 1760) was an Italian painter, active mainly in Bologna in the architectural perspective painting. He is known for painting fanciful architectural canvases, known as Capricci. Biography He trained with his ...

(1681-1760)

Netherlands

* Cornelis Pronk (1691-1759) *

Jan ten Compe Jan ten Compe (1713, Amsterdam – 1761, Amsterdam), was an 18th-century landscape painter from the Northern Netherlands. Biography According to his biographer Jan van Gool, he was a follower of Jan van der Heyden and Gerrit Berckheyde. ...

(1713-1761)

19th century

Austria

Rudolf von Alt Rudolf Ritter von Alt (; 28 August 1812 – 12 March 1905) was an Austrian landscape and architectural painter. Born as Rudolf Alt, he could call himself von Alt and bear the title of a Ritter (knight) after he gained nobility in 1889. Biogra ...

(1812-1905)

Belgium

* Jules Victor Génisson (1805-1860) * Jean-Baptiste Van Moer (1819-1884)

Denmark

* Heinrich Hansen (1821-1890) *

Jacob Kornerup Jacob Kornerup (19 November 1825 – 9 March 1913) was a Danish archeologist and painter who is remembered above all for discovering and restoring medieval frescos in Danish churches.Martinus Rørbye Martinus Christian Wesseltoft Rørbye (; 17 May 1803 – 29 August 1848) was a Danish painter, known both for genre works and landscapes. He was a central figure of the Golden Age of Danish painting during the first half of the 19th century. The ...

(1803–1848)

France

Charles Marie Bouton Charles Marie Bouton (16 May 1781 in Paris – 28 June 1853) was a French painter. He was a student of Jacques-Louis David, Jean-Victor Bertin and the first French panorama painter Pierre Prévost. He concentrated mostly on the perspect ...

(1781-1853)

Germany

* Wilhelm Barth (1779-1852) * Michael Neher (1798-1876) * Eduard Gaertner (1801-1877) *

Max Emanuel Ainmiller Maximilian Emanuel Ainmiller (14 February 1807 – 9 December 1870) was a German artist and glass painter. Under the tutorage of Friedrich von Gärtner, director of the royal Nymphenburg Porcelain Manufactory, Ainmiller studied glass painting, ...

(1807-1870) * Friedrich August Elsasser (1810-1845) * Hermann Gemmel (1813-1868) * Adolf Seel (1829-1907)

Italy

Giovanni Migliara Giovanni Migliara (October 15, 1785 in Alessandria – April 18, 1837 in Milan), was a nobleman and Italian painter active at the beginning of the 19th century, painting vedute and history paintings. Biography Born to artisan parents of limite ...

(1785-1837) * Federico Moja (1802-1885)

United Kingdom

Samuel Prout Samuel Prout painted by John Jackson in 1831 Market Day by Samuel Prout A View in Nuremberg by Samuel Prout Utrecht Town Hall by Samuel Prout in 1841 Samuel Prout (; 17 September 1783 – 10 February 1852) was a British watercolourist, and ...

(1783-1852), watercolours * Thomas H. Shepherd (1792-1864), watercolours

Modern art

* Colin Campbell Cooper, paintings of skyscrapers *

Eugeniusz Molski Eugeniusz Molski (born in 1942 in Bagienice, Zichenau) is a Polish contemporary artist, painter and sculptor. Attended a State Fine Arts College in Nałęczów and a State Academy of Fine Arts in Wrocław where he obtained his diploma in 1969. ...

, Polish painter

Chinese architectural painting

In China, architectural painting was called " jiehua", and mainly seen as an inferior type of painting. Known masters of the genre include the 10th century painter Guo Zhongshu, and Wang Zhenpeng, who was active around 1300.

Notes

{{reflist Painting Visual arts genres Architecture Dutch painting Flemish art Art of the Dutch Golden Age