Gerrit de Graeff I
Encyclopedia
Gerrit de Graeff van Zuid-Polsbroek (February 27, 1711 in Amsterdam
– November 10, 1752) was a member of the De Graeff
- Family from the Dutch Golden Age
. De Graeff was known for his wealth and notorious for his stinginess.
and his wife Johanna Hooft.
In 1734 he married Maria Elisabeth Sautijn, and in 1739, after his first had died, with Elizabeth Lestevenon (1716–1766). Mattheus Lestevenon
, the Dutch ambassador
to France, became his brother-in-law. With his first wife he had one child, Johan de Graeff, who died at the age of 19. With his second wife he had six children; Abraham (1743–1744), Pieter (1746–1762) and Elisabeth Jacoba de Graeff (1748–1750) died young.
(WIC). In 1739 he became a member of the vroedschap
, and captain in the schutterij
. From 1748 to 1752 he was one of the directors of the Company of Surinam and commissaris in Noorderkwartier
.
Gerrit de Graeff lived at Herengracht, in a mansion now the Tassenmuseum Hendrikje. In the first half of the 18th century an extensive renovation of the building takes place, particularly of the interiors. In the large period room various ceiling paintings and a mantelpiece with richly carved and gilded ornaments were installed. A richly ornamented chimneypiece in the late Louis XIV style was placed in the small period room. Most of the time he resided at his castle Ilpenstein
. He also owned Bronstee, a country estate near Heemstede
.
De Graeff had a famous art collection, and sold some of the family paintings to an art dealer from Hamburg. William VIII, Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel
bought Jacob Blessing the Sons of Joseph (the sitters were Wendela de Graeff and her two sons) and the Portrait of Andries de Graeff
The two famous paintings, both by Rembrandt, can be seen in Wilhelmshöhe in Kassel
.
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
– November 10, 1752) was a member of the De Graeff
De Graeff
De Graeff is an old Dutch patrician family. The family have played an important role during the Dutch Golden Age. They were at the centre of Amsterdam public life and oligarchy from 1578 until 1672...
- Family from the Dutch Golden Age
Dutch Golden Age
The Golden Age was a period in Dutch history, roughly spanning the 17th century, in which Dutch trade, science, military and art were among the most acclaimed in the world. The first half is characterised by the Eighty Years' War till 1648...
. De Graeff was known for his wealth and notorious for his stinginess.
Family
Gerrit was the son of Johan de GraeffJohan de Graeff
Johan de Graeff - Lord of the semisouverain Fief Zuid-Polsbroek and Lord of the castle Ilpenstein - was a member of the De Graeff - family from the Dutch Golden Age.-Life:...
and his wife Johanna Hooft.
In 1734 he married Maria Elisabeth Sautijn, and in 1739, after his first had died, with Elizabeth Lestevenon (1716–1766). Mattheus Lestevenon
Mattheus Lestevenon
Mattheus Lestevenon, heer van Berckenrode was a city-secretary and schepen in Amsterdam, then Dutch ambassador to France. Lestevenon played an important role in the year 1748 and in the negotiations for the Treaty of Paris. Pietro Locatelli dedicated six violin sonatas to him.-Life:Lestevenon...
, the Dutch ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
to France, became his brother-in-law. With his first wife he had one child, Johan de Graeff, who died at the age of 19. With his second wife he had six children; Abraham (1743–1744), Pieter (1746–1762) and Elisabeth Jacoba de Graeff (1748–1750) died young.
- Geertruid Joanna de Graeff (1740–1801) was first married to Isaac Ernst des H.r. Rijksbaron de Petersen (1737–1783), and in 1790 to Mr. François Jacob van de Wall (1756–1834).
- Gerrit de Graeff II. (1741–1811) married in 1765 Christina van Herzeele (1748–1798).
- Elisabeth Jacoba de Graeff 1751-1802 married in 1768 Jan des H.r. Rijksbaron De Petersen (1745–1786), the younger brother of Isaac Ernst.
Career, art and lifestyle
In 1732 De Graeff finished his studies at the University of Leiden. In 1736 he became one of the chairmen of the Dutch East Indies Company (VOC) One year later he was appointed as one of the Chairmen of the Dutch West India CompanyDutch West India Company
Dutch West India Company was a chartered company of Dutch merchants. Among its founding fathers was Willem Usselincx...
(WIC). In 1739 he became a member of the vroedschap
Vroedschap
The vroedschap was the name for the city council in the early modern Netherlands; the member of such a council was called a vroedman, literally a "wise man"...
, and captain in the schutterij
Schutterij
Schutterij refers to a voluntary city guard or citizen militia in the medieval and early modern Netherlands, intended to protect the town or city from attack and act in case of revolt or fire. Their training grounds were often on open spaces within the city, near the city walls, but, when the...
. From 1748 to 1752 he was one of the directors of the Company of Surinam and commissaris in Noorderkwartier
Noorderkwartier
Noorderkwartier is an historical term referring to the part of Holland north of the river IJ. It roughly correspondends to the modern province of North Holland. Other historical terms for this area were "North Holland", "Noordeland", "Noorderland" and "Waterland"....
.
Gerrit de Graeff lived at Herengracht, in a mansion now the Tassenmuseum Hendrikje. In the first half of the 18th century an extensive renovation of the building takes place, particularly of the interiors. In the large period room various ceiling paintings and a mantelpiece with richly carved and gilded ornaments were installed. A richly ornamented chimneypiece in the late Louis XIV style was placed in the small period room. Most of the time he resided at his castle Ilpenstein
Ilpenstein
Ilpenstein was the name of a ruined castle of the Free and high Lordship of Purmerend, Purmerland and Ilpendam, located in Ilpendam in the north of the city of Amsterdam.-History:...
. He also owned Bronstee, a country estate near Heemstede
Heemstede
Heemstede is a municipality and a town in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland.-History :Heemstede formed around the Castle Heemstede that was built on the Spaarne River around 1286. Before 1296, Floris V, Count of Holland, granted Heemstede as a fiefdom to Reinier of Holy...
.
De Graeff had a famous art collection, and sold some of the family paintings to an art dealer from Hamburg. William VIII, Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel
William VIII, Landgrave of Hesse-Cassel
William VIII ruled Hesse-Kassel 1730 until his death, first as regent and then as landgrave ....
bought Jacob Blessing the Sons of Joseph (the sitters were Wendela de Graeff and her two sons) and the Portrait of Andries de Graeff
Andries de Graeff
Free Imperial Knight Andries de Graeff was a very powerful member of the Amsterdam branch of the De Graeff - family during the Dutch Golden Age. He became a mayor of Amsterdam and a powerful Amsterdam regent after the death of his older brother Cornelis de Graeff...
The two famous paintings, both by Rembrandt, can be seen in Wilhelmshöhe in Kassel
Kassel
Kassel is a town located on the Fulda River in northern Hesse, Germany. It is the administrative seat of the Kassel Regierungsbezirk and the Kreis of the same name and has approximately 195,000 inhabitants.- History :...
.
Noble titles
Literature
- Graeff, P. de (P. de Graeff Gerritsz en Dirk de Graeff van PolsbroekDirk de Graeff van PolsbroekDirk de Graeff van Polsbroek was a successful Dutch diplomat in Japan. From July 1863, he held the post of Consul General and Political Agent in Japan. He played a major part in the many negotiations between various Western countries and Japan...
) Genealogie van de familie De Graeff van Polsbroek, Amsterdam 1882. - Bruijn, J. H. de Genealogie van het geslacht De Graeff van Polsbroek 1529/1827, met bijlagen. De Bilt 1962-63.
- Moelker, H.P. De heerlijkheid Purmerland en Ilpendam (1978 Purmerend)
- Elias, J.E., De Vroedschap van Amsterdam 1578-1795 (1903-1905 Haarlem), p. 693.