Dutch painter

Gorinchem 1607 – 1681 Rotterdam

 

Versatile painter of genre scenes, landscapes, allegories, etc.

 

Cornelis was the grandson and son of two painters called Herman, by whom no paintings have been identified yet.

Cornelis had two younger brothers who were also painters:

- Herman was a famous landscape and barn interior painter, he is sometimes called Herman II or III,

- Abraham of whom very little is known.

 

All three boys grew up in Rotterdam where they have trained as painters with their father until his death in 1627.

 

Cornelis was active in Flanders, in Antwerp, between 1632 and 1634, where he came into contact with the work of Adriaen Brouwer and of David Teniers II. While in Antwerp he collaborated on four projects with Sir Peter Paul Rubens. He left Antwerp for Utrecht where he was active for a short while with his brother Herman; they worked together on a portrait. Our painter returned to Rotterdam in 1637, where he started his own workshop. He seems to have stayed here until his death in 1681. In October 1667 he was elected dean of the local Painter’s Guild.

 

 

During his visit to Antwerp in his mid-twenties Cornelis must have seen diabolic engravings by Pieter Brueghel I and paintings of Frans Francken II and of David Teniers II which inspired him to develop in this particular field. Today Cornelis’ images of so-called “spookerijen”, demonic themes including visions of Hell, Temptations of Saint Anthony, witchcraft scenes and Black Sabbaths are considered to be his most important contributions to Dutch painting.

 

 

Because it is such a special subject.