Wouter Crabeth I
Encyclopedia
Wouter Pietersz Crabeth (1510–1590), was a Dutch
Renaissance
glass painter. He was employed by the Janskerk (Gouda)
during the Protestant Reformation
, where he created six of the stained glass windows during the years 1555-1571. His windows, that he created in close collaboration with his brother Dirk Crabeth
, are one of the reasons that the church was placed on the UNESCO
list of monuments.
industry of Gouda. Archival evidence survives today showing orders of glass panes from
various Netherlands towns. Wouter's fame began when his brother became head builder in charge at the Janskerk, and he was hired to help with the window design for an ambitious series of windows depicting the life of St. John the Baptist. Wouter probably assisted his brother from 1555 onwards, but he only signed his own work after he took a trip to Italy, which made him a master painter in his own right. His paintings show better skill at perspective, and he often included architectural backgrounds that accentuated this. According to Houbraken, his work gave the viewer the impression of height, while Dirk's work gave the impression of depth.
His brother had no children, but Wouter had at least one son named Pieter, who became a mayor of Gouda. He in turn had a son, also named Wouter Pietersz, who became a painter like his namesake. This grandson Wouter Crabeth II
also travelled to Italy, like his grandfather did before him. He also had a granddaughter by his son Pieter, named Maria Crabeth, who later married Reinier van Persijn
, the painter and engraver from Alkmaar.
and why
Wouter and his brother were allowed to continue their work after the changeover from a Catholic church to a Protestant one. The church has windows from both of the enemies Philip II of Spain
and William the Silent
.
Houbraken wote two pages about the brothers Dirk and Wouter Crabeth in his Schouburg (1718), since he was surprised they were overlooked in Karel van Mander's
Schilderboeck. In his biographical sketch, he wrote that Gouda had a busy glass painting industry that spanned several generations. He mentions that Van Mander did make note of an Adriaen Pietersz Crabeth who was a student of the painter Jan Swart (ca. 1495-1558) of Groningen. This could possibly be a third brother.
In Van Mander's boek he goes on to say that the father of this Adriaen was called Krepel Pieter and that he died in Autun
(known then for its stained glass windows in the Cathedral) after travelling for a long time in France.
Dutch people
The Dutch people are an ethnic group native to the Netherlands. They share a common culture and speak the Dutch language. Dutch people and their descendants are found in migrant communities worldwide, notably in Suriname, Chile, Brazil, Canada, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and the United...
Renaissance
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
glass painter. He was employed by the Janskerk (Gouda)
Janskerk (Gouda)
The Sint Janskerk in Gouda, the Netherlands, is a large Gothic church, known especially for its stained glass windows, for which it has been placed on the UNESCO list of Dutch monuments.-History:...
during the Protestant Reformation
Protestant Reformation
The Protestant Reformation was a 16th-century split within Western Christianity initiated by Martin Luther, John Calvin and other early Protestants. The efforts of the self-described "reformers", who objected to the doctrines, rituals and ecclesiastical structure of the Roman Catholic Church, led...
, where he created six of the stained glass windows during the years 1555-1571. His windows, that he created in close collaboration with his brother Dirk Crabeth
Dirk Crabeth
Dirk Pietersz Crabeth was a Dutch Renaissance glass painter, tapestry designer, and mapmaker. He was employed by the Janskerk during the 16th century, where he created eight of the stained glass windows during the years 1555-1571...
, are one of the reasons that the church was placed on the UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
list of monuments.
Biography
He and his talented brother Dirk were the sons of Pieter Dirckz of Gouda. They came from a painting family that was employed in the stained glassStained glass
The term stained glass can refer to coloured glass as a material or to works produced from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant buildings...
industry of Gouda. Archival evidence survives today showing orders of glass panes from
various Netherlands towns. Wouter's fame began when his brother became head builder in charge at the Janskerk, and he was hired to help with the window design for an ambitious series of windows depicting the life of St. John the Baptist. Wouter probably assisted his brother from 1555 onwards, but he only signed his own work after he took a trip to Italy, which made him a master painter in his own right. His paintings show better skill at perspective, and he often included architectural backgrounds that accentuated this. According to Houbraken, his work gave the viewer the impression of height, while Dirk's work gave the impression of depth.
His brother had no children, but Wouter had at least one son named Pieter, who became a mayor of Gouda. He in turn had a son, also named Wouter Pietersz, who became a painter like his namesake. This grandson Wouter Crabeth II
Wouter Crabeth II
-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 Crabeth I, who was a celebrated master glassmaker. Crabeth took an apprenticeship under Cornelis Ketel, uncle of Cornelis Ketel le Jeune, who...
also travelled to Italy, like his grandfather did before him. He also had a granddaughter by his son Pieter, named Maria Crabeth, who later married Reinier van Persijn
Reinier van Persijn
Reinier van Persijn 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 painter Wouter Crabeth I, whose son Wouter Crabeth II he probably knew from his time in...
, the painter and engraver from Alkmaar.
Legacy
The stained glass windows of Gouda are famous, but this is not only for their beauty. It remains a mystery today why these stained glass windows survived the BeeldenstormBeeldenstorm
Beeldenstorm in Dutch, roughly translatable to "statue storm", or Bildersturm in German , also the Iconoclastic Fury, is a term used for outbreaks of destruction of religious images that occurred in Europe in the 16th century...
and why
Wouter and his brother were allowed to continue their work after the changeover from a Catholic church to a Protestant one. The church has windows from both of the enemies Philip II of Spain
Philip II of Spain
Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
and William the Silent
William the Silent
William I, Prince of Orange , also widely known as William the Silent , or simply William of Orange , was the main leader of the Dutch revolt against the Spanish that set off the Eighty Years' War and resulted in the formal independence of the United Provinces in 1648. He was born in the House of...
.
Houbraken wote two pages about the brothers Dirk and Wouter Crabeth in his Schouburg (1718), since he was surprised they were overlooked in Karel van Mander's
Schilderboeck. In his biographical sketch, he wrote that Gouda had a busy glass painting industry that spanned several generations. He mentions that Van Mander did make note of an Adriaen Pietersz Crabeth who was a student of the painter Jan Swart (ca. 1495-1558) of Groningen. This could possibly be a third brother.
In Van Mander's boek he goes on to say that the father of this Adriaen was called Krepel Pieter and that he died in Autun
Autun
Autun is a commune in the Saône-et-Loire department in Burgundy in eastern France. It was founded during the early Roman Empire as Augustodunum. Autun marks the easternmost extent of the Umayyad campaign in Europe.-Early history:...
(known then for its stained glass windows in the Cathedral) after travelling for a long time in France.