Jacob Campo Weyerman and His Collection of Artists' Biographies: An Art Critic at Work

Description

Weyerman’s collection of artists’ biographies (1729) is exceptional for three reasons. Firstly, he includes a great number of painters not mentioned elsewhere. Secondly, he does not limit his selection to good artists only; he also discusses failed painters and their abortive careers. Thirdly, he writes as an art critic who does not hesitate to pass judgments, sometimes severe, on his chosen subjects. In the process, Weyerman provides much information on the social and economic circumstances of art production. He found that a bohemian lifestyle was pernicious to a painter’s career, and argued that artists should live and think as merchants. In addition to analyzing Weyerman’s art critical terminology and his ideas on art theory, De Vries includes translations of two full chapters along with the original Dutch. Contents Preface Illustrations Introduction 1 Contents of the Levens-Beschryvingen 2 Weyerman’s Opinions Chapter 1. Painted and Written Genre Scenes 1 Urban Genre 2 Low Life Genre 3 Italianate Scenes 4 Large-Scale Genre Paintings 5 Fine Painting Chapter 2. Failed Artists 1 Pretentions of Nobility 2 Social Skills 3 Marriage 4 Painterly Studios 5 Intemperance 6 Mental Problems 7 Art Dealers and Their Victims 8 Copying 9 Antwerp’s Vrijdagsmarkt 10 Street Vendors and Itinerant Painters Chapter 3. Portraiture 1 London 2 The ‘Byway’ of Art 3 The Sitter’s Identity 4 Good Manners, Flattery and Beauty 5 The Netherlands 6 Other Group Portraits Chapter 4. Art in the Public Space 1 Altarpieces 2 Stained Glass Windows 3 Wall Tapestries 4 Princely Commissions 5 Government Commissions 6 Municipal Commissions 7 Festive Entries 8 Private Commissions Chapter 5. Art Criticism 1 Choice of Subject Matter 2 Composition 3 Human Figures 4 Pictorial Space 5 Reddering 6 Colouring 7 Handling of the Brush 8 Welstand Chapter 6. Pliny, Durand and Weyerman 1 Weyerman’s Ideas in Perspective 2 Beauty 3 Grace 4 Art and Nature 5 The Purpose of Art 6 Classification 7 Conclusion Epilogue Appendix 1. The Life of Willem de Fouchier Appendix 2. Uytbreyding over de schilderkonst der ouden Bibliography Indices Artists — Ancient Artists — Early Modern Topography