Oil Painting » List of Painters » Ambrosius Bosschaert

EARLY DAYS:

Ambrosius Bosschaert (1573-1621) was a Dutch still life painter of the Dutch Golden Age. He is known for his exquisite still life paintings that feature a variety of flowers and fruits, often arranged in a simple, yet elegant composition. He is considered to be the founder of the still life style known as the "Bosschaert style".

Born in Antwerp, Belgium, Bosschaert was the son of a painter and art dealer, who moved the family to Middelburg in 1578. By the age of 14, Bosschaert had already joined the Middelburg painters' guild, and it is likely that he was trained as a painter by his father and/or his uncle, Ambrosius Bosschaert the Elder.

Bosschaert's earliest known paintings date from the late 1590s and were primarily still life of fruit, flowers, and game. His still life paintings often featured a variety of flowers such as tulips, roses, lilies, and other blooms, as well as fruits such as apples and pears. He often arranged these items in simple but striking compositions, allowing the flowers and fruits to be the primary focus of the painting.

Bosschaert was also known for his skill in painting glass vessels, which he often included in his still life paintings. He was one of the first painters to paint light reflecting off of glass, which made his paintings appear even more realistic and detailed.

In addition to his still life paintings, Bosschaert also painted other genres such as landscapes and portraits. His landscapes were typically of rural scenes, such as farms and fields, while his portraits featured prominent members of Dutch society. Both of these genres were painted in the same style as his still life paintings, with a focus on detail and realism.

Bosschaert was also known for his skill in painting animals, which he often included in his still life paintings. He was able to capture the movement and personality of the animals, which made his paintings appear even more realistic and lifelike.

Bosschaert's paintings were highly sought after during his lifetime and he was held in high esteem by the Dutch elite. He was a successful artist who was able to make a comfortable living from his art. His works are still admired today and can be found in some of the world's greatest art museums.

By the end of his life, Bosschaert had become one of the most influential still life painters of the Netherlands, and his works had a lasting impact on the development of still life painting in Europe. His paintings are some of the most iconic works of art from the Dutch Golden Age, and they continue to be appreciated and admired to this day.

CAREER:

    He began his career in Antwerp, but he spent most of his time in Middleburg, where he became the dean of the painters’ guild.He eventually worked in Amsterdam(1614), Bergen op Zoom (1615-1616), Utrecht (1616-1619), and Breda (1619). His still life paintings are usually based on flowers. His bouquets were painted in a  symmetric manner  and with scientific accuracy in minute dimensions and usually on copper.

Thesepaintings from time to time included symbolic as well as  religious meanings.He turned out to be one of the initial artists to focus in still life. He also began a ritual of painting detailed flower bouquets, which characteristically consisted of tulips, roses and striking species.

WORKS OF AMBROSIUS BOSSCHAERT: