Jacobus van Looy
Encyclopedia
Jacobus van Looy (September 12, 1855, Haarlem
- February 24, 1930, Haarlem) was a Dutch
painter and writer.
.
In 1884, he received the Prix de Rome
, which allowed him to travel. The years 1885-86 he spent traveling through Italy
, Spain
, and Morocco
. There he began to draw sketches, which are collected in two volumes. Until 1894 he lived in Amsterdam, when he married Titia van Gelder and moved to Soest. In 1901, he spent another year in Spain and Morocco. He moved back to Haarlem in 1913, when the orphanage where he grew up was converted to the Frans Hals Museum
. He bought a house on the corner of the Haarlemmerhout
park, where he was often seen taking walks and served as an inspiration for Godfried Bomans
, among others. After his death this house was converted to a museum in his name (now only visible with a plaque on the facade).
For many years, he belonged to the editorial staff of the literary monthly De Nieuwe Gids (The New Guide). He is one of the most typical authors of De Beweging van Tachtig (The Movement of the 1880s). He idolised words, especially in his travel books. He was an Epicurean and wrote with imagination about the outward appearance of our everyday life.
His work has been hailed as epic, with tender humanity and a gentle wisdom. Notable written works include the short story, De Dood van mijn Poes (The Death of My Cat) and his autobiograohy, Jaapje (Jimmy). Many of his paintings are to be found in Holland's leading museums.
Since 1985, a five-yearly Jacobus van Looy-prize is awarded by the "Stichting Jacobus van Looy" to artists who have excelled both as a writer and a painter. So far, the prize has been awarded to Armando
, Lucebert
, Breyten Breytenbach
, Charlotte Mutsaers
, and Wim T. Schippers
.
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...
- February 24, 1930, Haarlem) was a Dutch
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
painter and writer.
Biography
Van Looy was the son of a carpenter, but his father lost his job when his eyesight began to fail. His mother died when he was five years old and when his father died soon afterwards, he ended up in the Haarlem municipal orphanage. He trained to become a house painter, but was able to follow drawing classes, from 1877 at the "Rijksacademie van Beeldende Kunsten" in AmsterdamAmsterdam
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...
.
In 1884, he received the Prix de Rome
Prix de Rome
The Prix de Rome was a scholarship for arts students, principally of painting, sculpture, and architecture. It was created, initially for painters and sculptors, in 1663 in France during the reign of Louis XIV. It was an annual bursary for promising artists having proved their talents by...
, which allowed him to travel. The years 1885-86 he spent traveling through Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, and Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
. There he began to draw sketches, which are collected in two volumes. Until 1894 he lived in Amsterdam, when he married Titia van Gelder and moved to Soest. In 1901, he spent another year in Spain and Morocco. He moved back to Haarlem in 1913, when the orphanage where he grew up was converted to the Frans Hals Museum
Frans Hals Museum
The Frans Hals Museum is a hofje and municipal museum in Haarlem, Netherlands. The museum was founded in 1862 in the newly renovated former cloister located in the back of the Haarlem city hall known as the Prinsenhof...
. He bought a house on the corner of the Haarlemmerhout
Haarlemmerhout
The Haarlemmerhout is the oldest public park of the Netherlands. It lies on the south side of Haarlem, on the same old sandy sea wall that is shared by the public park Haagse Bos in the Hague and the Alkmaarderhout in Alkmaar.-History:...
park, where he was often seen taking walks and served as an inspiration for Godfried Bomans
Godfried Bomans
Godfried Bomans was a popular Dutch author and television personality and a prominent Dutch catholic...
, among others. After his death this house was converted to a museum in his name (now only visible with a plaque on the facade).
For many years, he belonged to the editorial staff of the literary monthly De Nieuwe Gids (The New Guide). He is one of the most typical authors of De Beweging van Tachtig (The Movement of the 1880s). He idolised words, especially in his travel books. He was an Epicurean and wrote with imagination about the outward appearance of our everyday life.
Works
- Proza (1889)
- Gekken (1892)
- Feesten (1903)
- De wonderlijke avonturen van Zebedeus (1910–1925)
- 'Een praatje over "vertalen" met eenige vertaalde fragmenten' (1912)
- Reizen (1913)
- Jaapje (1917)
- Feesten (1920)
- Jaap (1923)
- De wonderlijke avonturen van Zebedeus (1925)
- De wonderlijke avonturen van Zebedeus (1925)
- Nieuw proza (1929)
- Op reis (1929)
- Jacob (1930)
- Gedichten (only scans available) (1932)
- Jaapje (1963)
- Proza (1981)
His work has been hailed as epic, with tender humanity and a gentle wisdom. Notable written works include the short story, De Dood van mijn Poes (The Death of My Cat) and his autobiograohy, Jaapje (Jimmy). Many of his paintings are to be found in Holland's leading museums.
Since 1985, a five-yearly Jacobus van Looy-prize is awarded by the "Stichting Jacobus van Looy" to artists who have excelled both as a writer and a painter. So far, the prize has been awarded to Armando
Armando
The name Armando may be in reference to:* Armando , the name used by Dutch artist Herman Dirk van Dodeweerd* Armando , studio album by rapper Pitbull* Armando , writer at Daily Kos...
, Lucebert
Lucebert
Lucebert was a Dutch artist who first became known as the poet of the COBRA movement.He was born in Amsterdam in 1924...
, Breyten Breytenbach
Breyten Breytenbach
Breyten Breytenbach is a South African writer and painter with French citizenship.-Biography:Breyten Breytenbach was born in Bonnievale, Western Cape, approximately 180 km from Cape Town and 100 km from the southernmost tip of Africa at Cape Agulhas...
, Charlotte Mutsaers
Charlotte Mutsaers
Charlotte Jacoba Maria Mutsaers is a Dutch painter, prose writer and essayist.- Biography :Born in Utrecht, Charlotte Mutsaers was the daughter of the art historian Barend Mutsaers who worked at Utrecht University. She attended a gymnasium and studied Dutch in Amsterdam. Subsequently she became a...
, and Wim T. Schippers
Wim T. Schippers
Wim T. Schippers is a Dutch artist, comedian and voice actor, loosely related to the international Fluxus-movement....
.