Jacob Willemszoon de Wet
Encyclopedia
Jacob Willemszoon de Wet or Jacob Willemsz. de Wet the Elder (c. 1610, Haarlem
– between 1675 and 1691, Haarlem) was a Dutch Golden Age
painter, whose works were largely influenced by Rembrandt.
returned to Haarlem, his art was worth less than what he received in Rome, but he wouldn't lower his price. When a landscape that Laer made was considered too expensive by Jan de Wet (a dealer), the buyer contracted the then young Philips Wouwermans to copy it, which he did quite well. The success of this transaction launched the career of the young Wouwermans at the expense of Pieter van Laer, and Houbraken heard it from Michiel Carré who in turn heard it from Pieter Gerritsz van Roestraten
and Jacob de Wet that guilt had forced Wouwerman to burn the proof of all of his copies before he died. De Wet left a notebook that mentions a total of 34 pupils, most famously Paulus Potter
. Other notable pupils were Job Adriaensz Berckheyde, Adriaen Jansz Kraen, Johann Philip Lemke, Jan Vermeer van Haarlem I (not to be confused with Vermeer of Delft
), Jacob de Wet II
, and Kort Withold. He became a member of the Haarlem Guild of St. Luke
in 1632. Judging from the number of pupils, and the difficulties his son Jacob II had with launching an independent career, it seems that De Wet had a large and successful practise in Haarlem. His son Jacob II was the only one of 5 children that had a career as a painter on his own.
was decorated with portraits by Jacob de Wet (also known then as James de Witt ) of 106 (possibly 110) Scottish monarchs, from the legendary King Fergus
to James VII
, produced to the order of James and his elder brother, Charles II
.
Haarlem
Haarlem is a municipality and a city in the Netherlands. It is the capital of the province of North Holland, the northern half of Holland, which at one time was the most powerful of the seven provinces of the Dutch Republic...
– between 1675 and 1691, Haarlem) was a 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...
painter, whose works were largely influenced by Rembrandt.
Biography
Little is known of his early life. Houbraken mentions him in passing as an art dealer of Haarlem in his biographical sketch of Philips Wouwerman, referring to him as Jan de Wet. Houbraken related a story in which Philips Wouwerman burned his sketchbooks before his death, so that his brother Pieter wouldn't be able to use them and cash in on his name. Houbraken claimed that the story was malicious gossip, but he had heard another story that was probably closer to the truth. Apparently when Pieter van LaerPieter van Laer
Pieter van Laer was a Dutch Golden Age painter of genre scenes, active for over a decade in Rome, where his nickname was Il Bamboccio...
returned to Haarlem, his art was worth less than what he received in Rome, but he wouldn't lower his price. When a landscape that Laer made was considered too expensive by Jan de Wet (a dealer), the buyer contracted the then young Philips Wouwermans to copy it, which he did quite well. The success of this transaction launched the career of the young Wouwermans at the expense of Pieter van Laer, and Houbraken heard it from Michiel Carré who in turn heard it from Pieter Gerritsz van Roestraten
Pieter Gerritsz van Roestraten
Pieter Gerritsz van Roestraten was a Dutch Golden Age painter of still lifes and genre scenes.-Biography:He was a student of Frans Hals and married his daughter Adriaentje in 1654...
and Jacob de Wet that guilt had forced Wouwerman to burn the proof of all of his copies before he died. De Wet left a notebook that mentions a total of 34 pupils, most famously Paulus Potter
Paulus Potter
Paulus Potter was a Dutch painter, specialized in animals in landscapes, usually with a low point of view. Before Potter died of tuberculosis, 28-years old, he succeeded in producing about a hundred paintings, working continuously.-Life:Few details are known of Potter's life...
. Other notable pupils were Job Adriaensz Berckheyde, Adriaen Jansz Kraen, Johann Philip Lemke, Jan Vermeer van Haarlem I (not to be confused with Vermeer of Delft
Johannes Vermeer
Johannes, Jan or Johan Vermeer was a Dutch painter who specialized in exquisite, domestic interior scenes of middle class life. Vermeer was a moderately successful provincial genre painter in his lifetime...
), Jacob de Wet II
Jacob de Wet II
Jacob de Wet II , was a Dutch Golden Age painter.-Biography:According to the RKD he was one of five children of the painter Jacob Willemszoon de Wet. His father taught him to paint and he is first recorded in his father's notebook at age 16 when his father wrote that he sold one of his son's...
, and Kort Withold. He became a member of the Haarlem Guild of St. Luke
Haarlem Guild of St. Luke
The Haarlem Guild of Saint Luke was first a Christian, and later a city Guild for a large number of trades falling under the patron saints Luke the Evangelist and Saint Eligius.-History:...
in 1632. Judging from the number of pupils, and the difficulties his son Jacob II had with launching an independent career, it seems that De Wet had a large and successful practise in Haarlem. His son Jacob II was the only one of 5 children that had a career as a painter on his own.
Works
The Great Gallery of the Palace of Holyroodhouse in EdinburghEdinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
was decorated with portraits by Jacob de Wet (also known then as James de Witt ) of 106 (possibly 110) Scottish monarchs, from the legendary King Fergus
Fergus Mór
Fergus Mór mac Eirc was a legendary king of Dál Riata. He was the son of Erc.While his historicity may be debatable, his posthumous importance as the founder of Scotland in the national myth of Medieval and Renaissance Scotland is not in doubt...
to James VII
James II of England
James II & VII was King of England and King of Ireland as James II and King of Scotland as James VII, from 6 February 1685. He was the last Catholic monarch to reign over the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland...
, produced to the order of James and his elder brother, Charles II
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
.
External links
- Jacob de Wet on ArtnetArtnetartnet is an online service provider for the international art market with headquarters in New York, Berlin and Paris. Additionally, artnet has regional offices in China, the UK and Russia.- Business model :...
- Paintings by Jacob Willemsz. de Wet, Web Gallery of Art
- Paintings by Jacob Willemsz. de Wet, 1st-Art-Gallery