Dreamland

Gerard Dou by W. Martin
translated from the Dutch by Clara Bell

This biography of the painter Gerard Dou, one of the Dutch "Old Masters", was first published in 1902. I became interested in Dou after seeing one of his astronomer paintings now at the Getty Center in Los Angeles. Since you can no longer purchase this book, let me tell you some of what I learned.

Dou, painted in Holland during the time just after the Pilgrims left for America. He was a student of Rembrandt, although during his lifetime he was more famous. His paintings were much sought after, and he died a wealthy man.

He and Rembrandt both painted R's father and mother. A more wizened old crone you are scarcely likely to come across in this or any day and age. Dou painted, from life, in his north-facing studio in Leyde, not too far from The Hague (now celebrating its 750th anniversary).

He embraced, extended, and solidified the style of portraiture known as "genre painting," and became famous for night scenes lit by candlelight. His paintings are extremely detailed, with an enamel-like sheen to them which he acheived by carefully waiting for the dust to settle in his studio: he would also extend a parasol above the canvas to prevent any stray motes from alighting on the finished work. He was not a popular portraitist, as his subjects had to sit so long for him to finish a painting.

Dou's favorite subjects included hermits, people at work in their daily life, and musicians. A frieze of cupids which he owned, the work of one of the most popular sculptors of his time, was painted in as decoration on the wall in many of his paintings. Since it was also copied by many of his students, the frieze served as a guidepost to trace precisely the influence and effect of Dou's teaching.

You can see Carol Gerten's scans of six or seven of Dou's paintings on the net, which is well worthwhile, but if the comparison between the painting of the astronomer and the astronomer online is any indication, you will have to see the actual painting to really experience Dou's art.

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