Anonymous Initiation of a Bentveughel in Rome

The Bentvueghels (Dutch for "Birds of a Feather") were a society of mostly

Dutch Dutch commonly refers to: * Something of, from, or related to the Netherlands * Dutch people () * Dutch language () Dutch may also refer to: Places * Dutch, West Virginia, a community in the United States * Pennsylvania Dutch Country People E ...

and

Flemish Flemish (''Vlaams'') is a Low Franconian dialect cluster of the Dutch language. It is sometimes referred to as Flemish Dutch (), Belgian Dutch ( ), or Southern Dutch (). Flemish is native to Flanders, a historical region in northern Belgium; ...

artists active in Rome from about 1620 to 1720. They are also known as the Schildersbent ("painters' clique").

Activities

The members, which included painters, etchers, sculptors and poets, all lived in different parts of the city (mostly the parishes of

Santa Maria del Popolo it, Basilica Parrocchiale Santa Maria del Popolo , image = 20140803 Basilica of Santa Maria del Popolo Rome 0191.jpg , caption = The church from Piazza del Popolo , coordinates = , image_size ...

and

San Lorenzo in Lucina The Minor Basilica of St. Lawrence in Lucina ( it, Basilica Minore di San Lorenzo in Lucina or simply it, San Lorenzo in Lucina; la, S. Laurentii in Lucina) is a Roman Catholic parish, titular church, and minor basilica in central Rome, Italy. ...

in the north of the city) and came together for social and intellectual reasons. The group was well known for its drunken,

Bacchic In ancient Greek religion and myth, Dionysus (; grc, Διόνυσος ) is the god of the grape-harvest, winemaking, orchards and fruit, vegetation, fertility, insanity, ritual madness, religious ecstasy, festivity, and theatre. The Roma ...

initiation rituals (paid for by the initiate). These celebrations, sometimes lasting up to 24 hours, concluded with group marching to the church of

Santa Costanza Santa Costanza is a 4th-century church in Rome, Italy, on the Via Nomentana, which runs north-east out of the city. It is a round building with well preserved original layout and mosaics. It has been built adjacent to a horseshoe-shaped church, n ...

, known popularly at the time as the Temple of Bacchus. There they made

libation A libation is a ritual pouring of a liquid, or grains such as rice, as an offering to a deity or spirit, or in memory of the dead. It was common in many religions of antiquity and continues to be offered in cultures today. Various substa ...

s to Bacchus before the porphyry sarcophagus of

Constantina Flavia Valeria Constantina (also sometimes called ''Constantia'' and ''Constantiana''; el, Κωνσταντίνα; b. after 307/before 317 – d. 354), later known as Saint Constance, was the eldest daughter of Roman emperor Constantine the Great ...

(now in the

Vatican Museums The Vatican Museums ( it, Musei Vaticani; la, Musea Vaticana) are the public museums of the Vatican City. They display works from the immense collection amassed by the Catholic Church and the papacy throughout the centuries, including several of ...

), which was considered to be his tomb because of its Bacchic motifs. A list of its members may still be seen in one of this church's side chapels. This practice was finally banned by

Pope Clement XI Pope Clement XI ( la, Clemens XI; it, Clemente XI; 23 July 1649 – 19 March 1721), born Giovanni Francesco Albani, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 23 November 1700 to his death in March 1721. Clement XI w ...

in 1720. Although predominantly made up of Flemish and Dutch artists, a few other members were admitted, including

Joachim von Sandrart Joachim von Sandrart (12 May 1606 – 14 October 1688) was a German Baroque art-historian and painter, active in Amsterdam during the Dutch Golden Age. He is most significant for his collection of biographies of Dutch and German artists the '' T ...

and

Valentin de Boulogne Valentin de Boulogne (before 3 January 1591 – 19 August 1632), sometimes referred to as Le Valentin, was a French painter in the tenebrist style. Origins Valentin was born in Coulommiers, France, where he was baptised in the parish of Sai ...

. Despite the rowdy nature of these initiations, an intellectual quality was maintained.

, for example, wrote in his 1675–1679 book, ''Teutsche Academie der edlen Bau-, Bild und Malereikünste'' (''German Academy of the Noble Arts of Architecture, Sculpture and Painting''), that his "baptism" included "reasoned discourses, undertaken by French and Italians, as well as by Germans and Netherlanders, each in his own tongue." Also

Cornelis de Bruijn Cornelis de Bruijn or Cornelius de Bruyn (; 16521726/7), also formerly known in English by his French language, French name Corneille Le Brun, was a Dutch artist and traveler. He made two large tours and published illustrated books with his obser ...

wrote about the rituals he had to undergo in 1674 and made some engravings, which he published in 1698.

The Bentvueghels and the Accademia di San Luca

The Bentvueghels were frequently at odds with Rome's

Accademia di San Luca The Accademia di San Luca (the "Academy of Saint Luke") is an Italian academy of artists in Rome. The establishment of the Accademia de i Pittori e Scultori di Roma was approved by papal brief in 1577, and in 1593 Federico Zuccari became its fir ...

("Academy of Saint Luke"), which had the purpose of elevating the work of "artists" above that of craftsman. For this reason, before setting off for Italy, artists would first try to become members in their local Guild of St. Luke so they would have papers to show on arrival. Travel to Italy became a rite of passage for young Dutch and Flemish artists after publication of

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 ''Schilder-boeck'' in 1604. Often encompassing a difficult and in many cases dangerous journey, artists would spend years getting to Italy, using their artistic talents to pay their way. Many never made it all the way to Italy, and many never attempted the trip back once they got there. On arrival, many artists were therefore fairly established thanks to their work experience done along the way. However, equally many were still young and unknown. What they all did have by the time they arrived in Rome, was an overwhelming feeling of self-confidence in their ability to live by their own work, and membership in the Accademia had little relevance for them. Traditionally, the low-brow qualities of the Bentvueghel's activities have been emphasized over their intellectual and artistic pursuits. David Levine suggests instead that "academic art-pedagogy, with its emphasis on repetitive copying, might well have struck members of the Bent he Bentvueghelsas a low, mechanical process in contrast to their truly humanistic approach." Artists such as

Pieter van Laer Pieter Bodding van Laer (christened 14 December 1599, Haarlem – 1641 or later) was a Dutch painter and printmaker. He was active in Rome for over a decade and was known for genre scenes, animal paintings and landscapes placed in the environs o ...

, however, belonged to both organisations.

Known members

The earliest-known publication listing the members is the book by Arnold Houbraken, an artist and engraver who never traveled to Italy, but who used the Bentvueghels membership list as a source for his book, ''De groote schouburgh der Nederlantsche konstschilders en schilderessen'', in 1718. Whenever possible, he gives the nickname or ''bent'' of the painter in his biographical sketches. The original members of the group were also depicted in a series of drawings made around 1620. Among those appearing in the drawings are

Cornelis van Poelenburch Cornelis van Poelenburgh or Cornelis van Poelenburch (1594 – 12 August 1667),Cornelis van Poelenburch
...

Bartholomeus Breenbergh Bartholomeus Breenbergh (before 13 November 1598 – after 3 October 1657) was a Dutch Golden Age painter of Italian and Italianate landscapes, in Rome (1619-1630) and Amsterdam (1630-1657). Biography Little is known of his early life. In his ...

Dirck van Baburen Dirck Jaspersz. van Baburen (c. 1595 – 21 February 1624) was a Dutch painter and one of the Utrecht Caravaggisti. Biography Dirck van Baburen was probably born in Wijk bij Duurstede, but his family moved to Utrecht when he was still youn ...

, Paulus Bor,

Cornelis Schut Cornelis Schut (13 May 1597 – 29 April 1655) was a Flemish painter, draughtsman, engraver and tapestry designer who specialized in religious and mythological scenes. Presumed to have trained under Rubens, he treated Counter-Reformation ...

and

Simon Ardé Simon Ardé (also Simon Ardi, Symon van Antwerpen and nickname Tovenaer) (probably Antwerp, 1594 - Rome, 1638) was a Flemish Baroque painter who was active in Italy for most part of his life.aliases A pseudonym (; ) or alias () is a fictitious name that a person or group assumes for a particular purpose, which differs from their original or true name ( orthonym). This also differs from a new name that entirely or legally replaces an individu ...

or 'bent'-names: *

Willem van Aelst Willem van Aelst (16 May 1627 – buried 22 May 1683)Aelst, Willem van

– "Vogelverschrikker" ("

Scarecrow A scarecrow is a decoy or mannequin, often in the shape of a human. Humanoid scarecrows are usually dressed in old clothes and placed in open fields to discourage birds from disturbing and feeding on recently cast seed and growing crops.Lesley ...

") *

Simon Ardé Simon Ardé (also Simon Ardi, Symon van Antwerpen and nickname Tovenaer) (probably Antwerp, 1594 - Rome, 1638) was a Flemish Baroque painter who was active in Italy for most part of his life.Jan Asselijn Jan Asselijn (c.1610 – October 1, 1652) was a Dutch Golden Age painter. Biography Asselijn was born at Dieppe from a French Huguenot family as ''Jean Asselin''. He received instruction from Esaias van de Velde (1587–1630), and distingu ...

– "Crabbetje" ("Little crab"), because of a handicap on his right hand *

– "Biervlieg" ("Beer fly") *

David Beck David Beck (or Beek; May 25, 1621December 20, 1656), was a Dutch Golden Age portrait painter. Biography Beck was born in Delft, and was named after his uncle, a well-known poet from Arnhem.Jan van Bijlert Jan Hermansz van Bijlert (1597 or 1598 – November 1671) was a Dutch Golden Age painter from Utrecht, one of the Utrecht Caravaggisti whose style was influenced by Caravaggio. He spent some four years in Italy and was one of the founders of the ...

– "

Aeneas In Greco-Roman mythology, Aeneas (, ; from ) was a Trojan hero, the son of the Trojan prince Anchises and the Greek goddess Aphrodite (equivalent to the Roman Venus). His father was a first cousin of King Priam of Troy (both being grandsons ...

" (one of the founders) *

Cornelis Bloemaert Cornelis Bloemaert II (1603 – 28 September 1692), was a Dutch Golden Age painter and engraver. Biography Bloemaert was born at Utrecht. He studied with his father, Abraham Bloemaert, his brothers Hendrick and Adriaan, and his father's pupi ...

– "Winter" *

Jan Frans van Bloemen Jan Frans van Bloemen (baptized 12 May 1662 - buried 13 June 1749) was a Flemish landscape painter mainly active in Rome. Here he was able to establish himself as the leading painter of views (vedute) of the Roman countryside depicted in the aes ...

– "Orizonte" * Norbert van Bloemen – "Cefalus" *

Pieter van Bloemen Pieter van Bloemen, also known as Standaart (bapt. 17 January 1657 – 6 March 1720), first name also spelled Peter or Peeter, was a Flemish painter. He was a gifted landscape and animal painter and was very successful with his compositions depict ...

– "Standaart " or "Stendardo" ("

Standard Standard may refer to: Symbols * Colours, standards and guidons, kinds of military signs * Standard (emblem), a type of a large symbol or emblem used for identification Norms, conventions or requirements * Standard (metrology), an object th ...

") * Jacques Blondeau – "Weyman" ("Meadow man") *

Jan Boeckhorst Jan Boeckhorst or Johann Bockhorst (c. 1604 – 21 April 1668) was a German-born Flemish Baroque painter and draughtsman. He was a versatile artist who produced history paintings, genre scenes and portraits in a style influenced by the trio ...

– "Lange Jan" ("Tall John") * Paulus Bor – "

Orlando Orlando () is a city in the U.S. state of Florida and is the county seat of Orange County. In Central Florida, it is the center of the Orlando metropolitan area, which had a population of 2,509,831, according to U.S. Census Bureau figures rele ...

" * Francis van Bossuit – "Waarnemer" ("Delegate") *

– "Innamorato" ("Lover or Valentine") *

Leonard Bramer Leonaert Bramer, also Leendert or Leonard (24 December 1596 – before 10 February 1674 (date of burial)),Leonaert Bramer< ...

– "Nestelghat" ("Fidget") *

– "Het Fret" ("the

Ferret The ferret (''Mustela furo'') is a small, Domestication, domesticated species belonging to the family Mustelidae. The ferret is most likely a domesticated form of the wild European polecat (''Mustela putorius''), evidenced by their Hybrid (biol ...

") *

Abraham Brueghel Abraham Brueghel (baptised 28 November 1631 – c. 1690) was a Flemish painter from the famous Brueghel family of artists. He emigrated at a young age to Italy where he played an important role in the development of the style of decorative Baroq ...

– "Rijngraaf" or "Ringraaf" (the "Duke of the Rhine", which was an old aristocratic title in Northern Europe) *

Jan Baptist Brueghel Jan Baptist Brueghel (baptised 26 December 1647 – 1719) was a Flemish Baroque flower painter. Biography Brueghel was born in Antwerp. He travelled to Rome where he joined the Bentvueghels, an association of mainly Dutch and Flemish artists ...

– "

Meleager In Greek mythology, Meleager (, grc-gre, Μελέαγρος, Meléagros) was a hero venerated in his ''temenos'' at Calydon in Aetolia. He was already famed as the host of the Calydonian boar hunt in the epic tradition that was reworked by Ho ...

" *

– "

Adonis In Greek mythology, Adonis, ; derived from the Canaanite word ''ʼadōn'', meaning "lord". R. S. P. Beekes, ''Etymological Dictionary of Greek'', Brill, 2009, p. 23. was the mortal lover of the goddess Aphrodite. One day, Adonis was gored by ...

" *

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 ...

– "Almanack" ("

Almanac An almanac (also spelled ''almanack'' and ''almanach'') is an annual publication listing a set of current information about one or multiple subjects. It includes information like weather forecasts, farmers' planting dates, tide tables, and othe ...

") * Tyman Arentsz. Cracht – "Botterkull" or "Botterkull" ("Butter ball") * Ignatius Croon – "Gaudtvinck" or "Goudtvinck" ("Bullfinch") *

Willem Doudijns Willem Doudijns (1630–1697), was a Dutch Golden Age painter and engraver. Biography According to the RKD he learned to draw from Alexander le Petit, and he spent 12 years in Italy. He returned home in 1661, where he collaborated with Jan ...

– " Diomedes" *

Karel Dujardin Karel Dujardin (September 27, 1626November 20, 1678) was a Dutch Golden Age painter. Although he did a few portraits and a few history paintings of religious subjects, most of his work is small Italianate landscape scenes with animals and peasan ...

– "Barba di Becco" or "Bokkebaart" ("Goat-beard") *

Wybrand de Geest Wybrand Simonsz. de Geest (16 August 1592 – ) was a Dutch Golden Age portrait painter from Friesland. Biography Wybrand de Geest was born and died at Leeuwarden. He learned painting from his father, Simon Juckesz, a stained glass worker. He st ...

– "De Friesche Adelaar" (Frisian Eagle) *

Abraham Genoels Abraham Genoels II or Abraham Genouil (nickname: Archimedes) (25 May 1640, Antwerp – 10 May 1723, Antwerp) was a Flemish Baroque painter, draughtsman, engraver and tapestry designer. He is now mainly known for his landscape paintings, drawings ...

– "Archimedes" * Pieter Groenewegen – "Leeuw" ("Lion") * Reynier van Heuckelom – "Wolf" *

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 ...

– "Batavier" (" Batavian") * Pieter van der Hulst – "Zonnebloem" ("Sunflower") *

Willem van Ingen Willem van Ingen, or Guilhelmo Den Eersten (1651–1708), was a Dutch Golden Age painter active in Italy. Biography According to Houbraken, he learned to paint in Utrecht and attracted the attention of Johannes van Neercassel, who took him alon ...

– "Den Eersten" ("The first one") * Adriaen van der Kabel – "Geestigheid" ("Humour") * Gerard van Kuijl – "Stijgbeugel" ("Stirrup") *

– "Il Bamboccio" ("Ugly puppet") *

Jan Linsen Jan Linsen (Hoorn, 1602 or 1603 – Hoorn, May 26, 1635) was a Dutch painter of mythological and historical themes. Jan Linsen travelled in France and Italy on a Grand Tour, and in Rome he became a member of the painters' circle known as the Bent ...

– "Hermafrodiet" ("

Hermaphrodite In reproductive biology, a hermaphrodite () is an organism that has both kinds of reproductive organs and can produce both gametes associated with male and female sexes. Many Taxonomy (biology), taxonomic groups of animals (mostly invertebrate ...

") *

Jacob Leyssens Jacob Leyssens or Jacob Lyssens (nickname Notenkraker) (1661, Antwerp - 1710, Antwerp), was a Flemish painter and decorator. After training in Antwerp, he spent a long time in Rome. After his return to Antwerp, he was active as a painter and de ...

– "Notenkraker" ("Nutcracker") *

Hendrik Frans van Lint Hendrik Frans van Lint (1684 – 24 September 1763) was a Flemish landscape and ''vedute'' painter who was part of the group of Flemish and Dutch painters active in Rome. He was one of the leading landscape painters in Rome in the first half ...

– "Studie" ("Study") *

Johann Liss Johann Liss or Jan Lys ( or 1597 – 1629 or 1630) was a leading German Baroque painter of the 17th century, active mainly in Venice. Biography Liss was born in Oldenburg (Holstein) in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany. After an initial education ...

– " Pan" * Willem Molijn – another founder *

Jan Miel Jan Miel (1599 in Beveren-Waas – April 1664 in Turin) was a Flemish painter and engraver who was active in Italy. He initially formed part of the circle of Dutch and Flemish genre painters in Rome who are referred to as the ' Bamboccianti ...

– "Honingh-Bie"/"Bieco" ("Honey Bee"), a pun on his surname. * Pieter Mulier the Younger – "Tempeest" ("Tempest") * Franciscus de Neve (II) – "Bloosaerken" ("Little blower") *

Reinier van Persijn Reinier van Persijn (1615 – 23 November 1668) was a Dutch Golden Age engraver of portraits and bookplates. Biography According to Houbraken, who called him ''Reynier van Parzyn'', he was married to the granddaughter of the stained glass pain ...

– "Narcissis" (" Narcissus") *

Cornelis van Poelenburgh Cornelis van Poelenburgh or Cornelis van Poelenburch (1594 – 12 August 1667),Cornelis van Poelenburch
...

– "

Satyr In Greek mythology, a satyr ( grc-gre, :wikt:σάτυρος, σάτυρος, sátyros, ), also known as a silenus or ''silenos'' ( grc-gre, :wikt:Σειληνός, σειληνός ), is a male List of nature deities, nature spirit with ears ...

", also a founder * Christoffel Puytlinck – "Trechter" ("Funnel") *

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 ...

– "Gentiel" or "Gentile" ("Gentle") *

Otto Marseus van Schrieck Otto Marseus van Schrieck (ca. 1613, in Nijmegen – buried 22 June 1678, in Amsterdam) was a painter in the Dutch Golden Age. He is best known for his paintings of forest flora and fauna. Biography Marseus van Schrieck spent the years 1652 ...

– "Snuffelaer" ("Sniffer") *

Jacob van Staverden Jacob van StaverdenName variations: Jacomo van Staverden, Jacob van Staveren, nickname: IJver (Amersfoort, 1656 – Rome, (after) 1716) was a Dutch painter who emigrated to Rome where he formed part of the group of genre painters known as the Bamb ...

– "Ijver" ("Diligence") *

Herman van Swanevelt Herman van Swanevelt (1603 – 1655) was a Dutch painter and etcher from the Baroque era. Life Herman was born in Woerden to a family of thriving artisans whose ancestors included the famous painter Lucas van Leyden. The identity of Swaneve ...

– "Heremiet" ("

Hermit A hermit, also known as an eremite (adjectival form: hermitic or eremitic) or solitary, is a person who lives in seclusion. Eremitism plays a role in a variety of religions. Description In Christianity, the term was originally applied to a Ch ...

") *

Augustinus Terwesten Augustinus Terwesten or Augustinus Terwesten the Elder (4 May 1649 in The Hague – 21 January 1711 in Berlin) was a Dutch painter, draughtsman, printmaker and art educator. He specialized in portraits, architectural and historical themes. He w ...

– "Patrysvogel" ("Partridge") * Robert du Val – "La Fortune" *

Pieter Verbrugghen II Pieter Verbrugghen the Youngeror Pieter Verbrugghen II(1648, Antwerp - after 1691, Antwerp) was a Flemish sculptor, draughtsman, etcher and stone merchant.

– "Ballon" ("

Balloon A balloon is a flexible bag that can be inflated with a gas, such as helium, hydrogen, nitrous oxide, oxygen, and air. For special tasks, balloons can be filled with smoke, liquid water, granular media (e.g. sand, flour or rice), or light so ...

") * Karel van Vogelaer – "Distelbloem" *

Jan Baptist Weenix Jan Baptist Weenix, also spelled Jan Baptiste Weeninx (1621–c. 1659) was a painter of the Dutch Golden Age. Despite his relatively brief career, he was a very productive and versatile painter. His favourite subjects were Italian land ...

– "Ratel" (" Rattle", because of a speech defect) * Theodoor Wilkens – "Goedewil" ("Good intention") *

Matthias Withoos Matthias Withoos (1627–1703), also known as Calzetta Bianca and Calzetti, was a Dutch painter of still lifes and city scenes, best known for the details of insects, reptiles and undergrowth in the foreground of his pictures.Seymour Slive, ...

– "Calzetta bianca" ("White Hose")This is a direct translation of his name into Italian. * Gaspar de Witte – "Grondel" ("

Gudgeon A gudgeon is a socket-like, cylindrical (i.e., ''female'') fitting attached to one component to enable a pivoting or hinging connection to a second component. The second component carries a pintle fitting, the male counterpart to the gudgeon, ...

") * Johan Zierneels – "Lely" or "Lelie" ("Lily")Abraham Genoels biography
in Arnold Houbraken, ''De groote schouburgh der Nederlantsche konstschilders en schilderessen'', 1718

Notes

Sources

* Some of the information here is taken from the corresponding Dutch article about the Bentvueghels. * Haskell, Francis, ''Patrons and Painters: Art and Society in Baroque Italy'', Yale University Press, 1980. * Kilian, Jennifer M., "Jan Baptist iovanni BattistaWeenix," ''Grove Art Online''. Oxford University Press, 9 October 2007 * Levine, David A., "The Bentvueghels: 'Bande Académique"," in ''IL60: Essays Honoring

Irving Lavin Irving Lavin (14 December 1927 – 3 February 2019) was an art historian of Late Antique, Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, and Modern painting, sculpture, and architecture. His wide-ranging contributions centered primarily on the correlation be ...

on his Sixtieth Birthday'', ed. Marilyn Aronberg Lavin. New York: Italica Press, 1990 (pp. 207–219). . * Levine, David A., "Schildersbent

ent Ents are a species of beings in J. R. R. Tolkien's fantasy world Middle-earth who closely resemble trees; their leader is Treebeard of Fangorn forest. Their name is derived from an Old English word for giant. The Ents appear in ''The Lord of ...

" ''Grove Art Online''. Oxford University Press, 5 March 2007 * Slive, Seymour. ''Dutch Painting 1600–1800''. Yale University Press Pelican history of Art. New Haven, Conn: Yale University Press, 1995. . {{Authority control Defunct clubs and societies Arts organisations based in Italy Organisations based in Rome Artists from Rome Baroque painters Baroque sculptors Baroque writers Dutch artist groups and collectives Belgian artist groups and collectives German artist groups and collectives Art of the Dutch Golden Age Dutch Golden Age painters Flemish Baroque painters German Baroque painters Dutch expatriates in Italy Belgian expatriates in Italy German expatriates in Italy

Activities

The Bentvueghels and the Accademia di San Luca

Known members

See also

Notes

Sources