Aert
de Gelder was first trained by Samuel van Hoogstraten, and then by Rembrandt
himself.
Gelder was the last and most devoted pupil of Rembrandt. He studied
in his studio in 1661-67. The style of Rembrandt’s late works profoundly
influenced him. Gelder worked mostly with the subjects from Old Testament,
the favorite subjects of his master and friend. He liked, just as Rembrandt
did, rich accessories, and his studio remind of the old curiosity shop:
it was full of old weapons, antiques, bright fabrics. He used dummies in
his work and dressed them up and designed the scene as the subject demanded.
He painted with broad brushes, to put paint on canvas he used a brush handle
and a palette-knife, to smooth the paint on canvas he used his fingers
and scratched it with the brush handle.
Born in Dordrecht, he spent all his life there. Being a wealthy man, Gelder
never sold his pictures, and during his life-time was not known outside
his town.
Looking at Gelder’s canvases, one can easily recognize Rembrandt’s influence,
as well as appreciate Gelder’s individual response to the subject.
Bibliography:
Painting of Europe. XIII-XX centuries. Encyclopedic Dictionary. Moscow.
Iskusstvo. 1999.
