Gerard de Lairesse: Difference between revisions

[[Image:Rembrandt Harmensz. van Rijn 095.jpg|thumb|[[Rembrandt van Rijn|Rembrandt]]'s [[portrait of Gerard de Lairesse]] at age 25, showing his [[saddle nose]] caused by [[congenital syphilis]]. Oil on canvas, ca. 1665-67{{circa|1665–67}}. [[Metropolitan Museum of Art]].]]

'''Gerard''' or '''Gérard (de) Lairesse''' ({{IPA|fr|ʒeʁaʁ də lɛʁɛs}}; 11 September 1641 &ndash; June 1711) was a [[Dutch Golden Age]] painter and art theorist. His broad range of skills included music, poetry, and theatre. De Lairesse was influenced by the [[Perugian]] [[Cesare Ripa]]<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=bIZbAAAAcAAJ&lpg=RA1-PA371&ots=2BSSyl2R-_&dq=de%20Lairesse%20ripa&hl=en+Lairesse+ripa&pg=RA1-PA371#v=onepage&q=de%20Lairesse%20ripa&f=false Gérard de Lairesse, ''Groot schilderboek''], 1707</ref><ref name="arthistoriography.files.wordpress.com">[https://arthistoriography.files.wordpress.com/2011/12/lairesse.pdf Lyckle de Vries "De Lairesse on the theory and practice"]</ref> and French classicist painters such as [[Charles le Brun]], [[Simon Vouet]] and authors such as [[Pierre Corneille]] and [[Jean Racine]]. His importance grew in the period following the death of [[Rembrandt]].<ref>{{cite journal|title=Horton A Johnson, "Gerard de Lairesse: genius among the treponemes|journal=Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine|volume= 97|issue=6|pages= 301–303 |date=2012-05-24 |pmc=1079501|pmid=15173339 | last1 = Johnson | first1 = HA|doi=10.12581177/jrsm.97.6.301014107680409700616}}</ref> His treatises on painting and drawing, ''Grondlegginge Ter Teekenkonst'' (1701),<ref name="Ter Teekenkonst">[https://archive.org/details/grondleggingeter00lair Lairesse, Gérard de, ''Grondlegginge ter teekenkonst''] 1701, full digital copy</ref><ref name="Grondlegginge ter">[http://digi.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/diglit/lairesse1701bd1/0022 Lairesse, Gérard de, ''Grondlegginge ter teekenkonst''] 1701, full digital copy, Universitätsbibliothek Heidelberg</ref><ref name="der teekenkonst">[https://books.google.com/books?id=lsA9AAAAcAAJ ''Grondlegginge der teekenkonst''] (1701) and [https://books.google.com/books?id=N8Q9AAAAcAAJ Groot Schilderboek] (1707)</ref> based on [[geometry]] and ''Groot Schilderboek'' (1707), were highly influential on 18th-century painters.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rijksmuseum.nl/aria/aria_artists/00017259?lang=nl&context_space=&context_id= |title=Gerard de Lairesse |publisher=Rijksmuseum Amsterdam |language=nl |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010201634/http://www.rijksmuseum.nl/aria/aria_artists/00017259?lang=nl&context_space=&context_id= |archive-date=10 October 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

De Lairesse was born in [[Liège]] and was the second son of painter Renier de Lairesse (1597-16671597–1667). He studied art under his father and from 1655 under [[Bertholet Flemalle]].<ref>[http://www.dbnl.org/tekst/houb005groo01_01/houb005groo01_01_0353.htm Gerard de Laires biography] in ''De groote schouburgh der Nederlantsche konstschilders en schilderessen'' (1718) by [[Arnold Houbraken]], courtesy of the [[Digital library for Dutch literature]]</ref> He worked in [[Cologne]] and [[Aix-la-Chapelle]] for [[Maximilian Henry of Bavaria]] from 1660. In 1664 De Lairesse fled from Liège after an affair with two sisters, his models, led to difficulties. He travelled north with a girl named Marie Salme and married her in [[Visé]]. The couple settled in [[Utrecht (city)|Utrecht]], where a son was baptized in April 1665. When his talent as an artist was discovered by the art dealer [[Gerrit van Uylenburgh]], he moved to Amsterdam. De Lairesse arrived with his violin, with which he impressed [[Jan van Pee]] and probably Anthonie Claesz de Grebber in Uylenburgh's studio.<ref>Lammertse, F. & J. van der Veen (2006) Uylenburgh & Zoon. Kunst en commercie van Rembrandt tot Lairesse, p. 217.</ref> In 1670 a son, Abraham, was born; the engraver [[Abraham Blooteling]], with whom he collaborated, was the witness at the baptism;<ref>[https://stadsarchief.amsterdam.nl/archieven/archiefbank/indexen/doopregisters/zoek/query.nl.pl?i1=1&a1=laire*&i2=2&p2=d&y2=1670&x=19&z=b Amsterdam City Archives]{{Dead link|date=September 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> another son was baptized in 1673.<ref>[https://stadsarchief.amsterdam.nl/archieven/archiefbank/indexen/doopregisters/zoek/query.nl.pl?i1=1&a1=laire*&i2=2&p2=d&y2=1673&x=19&z=b Amsterdam City Archives]{{Dead link|date=September 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

De Lairesse produced paintings as decorations for the [[Soestdijk Palace]] between 1676 and 1683. In 1684 he moved to the Hague and worked there for a year. In 1685 he painted works for the [[Loo Palace]]. In 1688-16891688–1689, he decorated the civil council chamber of the [[Hof van Holland]] at the [[Binnenhof]], presently known as the Lairesse room, with seven paintings with subjects from the history of the [[Roman Republic]], all displaying a remarkable legal iconography.<ref>T. Lubbers, 'Art for the Court: A new interpretation of Gerard de Lairesse’sLairesse's paintings for the Court of Appeal of Holland (1688-1689)’', ''Oud Holland'' 2019/132, issue 2/3, pp. 109-134.</ref>

At first, De Lairesse was highly influenced by [[Rembrandt]], but later he focused on a more French-oriented style similar to [[Nicolas Poussin]].<ref>The principles of drawing : or, an easy and familiar method whereby youth are directed in the practice of that useful art. Being a compleat drawing book: ... To which is prefix'd, an introduction to drawing; ... Translated from the French of Monsieur Gerard de Lairesse, and improved with abstracts from C. A. Du Fresnoy.'"[httphttps://www.worldcat.org/title/principles-of-drawing-or-an-easy-and-familiar-method-whereby-youth-are-directed-in-the-practice-of-that-useful-art-being-a-compleat-drawing-book-to-which-is-prefixd-an-introduction-to-drawing-translated-from-the-french-of-monsieur-gerard-de-lairesse-and-improved-with-abstracts-from-c-a-du-fresnoy/oclc/690465329/editions?referer=di&editionsView=true]</ref> The French even nicknamed him the "Dutch Poussin", although he was also influenced by [[Pierre Mignard]] and [[Charles Alphonse du Fresnoy]].

De Lairesse sufferedwas fromborn with [[congenital syphilis]], which caused him to go blind around 1690.<ref>Fifteenth- to Eighteenth-century European Paintings, p. 144. by Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York, N.Y.), Charles Sterling [https://books.google.com/books?id=7BU-36sK16MC&lpg=PA146&ots=yCc9cGiTkl&dq=Marie%20Salme%20Lairesse&hl=en+Salme+Lairesse&pg=PA144#v=onepage&q=Marie%20Salme%20Lairesse&f=false]</ref> The [[saddle nose]] which the disease gave him is clearly visible on the portrait which Rembrandt painted of him around 1665 and the [[engraving]] in the "[[Teutsche Academie]]" by [[Joachim von Sandrart]] (1683).<ref>[http://ta.sandrart.net/en/artwork/image/5371 Vitenporträt Gérard de Lairesse (Academia 1683, Tafel 7)]</ref> After losing his sight, De Lairesse was forced to give up painting and focused instead on lecturing twice a week. De Lairesse explicitly states that despite his blindness, he was still able to design a perfect composition. He drew on two [[chalk boards]] and was assisted by his audience and his son Johannes who collected their notes. After several years two books on art were published:

De Lairesse attracted many pupils, including [[Jan van Mieris]], [[Simon van der Does]], and the brothers [[Teodor Lubieniecki|Teodor]] and [[Krzysztof Lubieniecki]]. According to Houbraken, [[Jan Hoogsaat]] was one of his best pupils.<ref name=Houbraken>{{in lang|nl}}<!--Middle Dutch--> [http://www.dbnl.org/tekst/houb005groo01_01/houb005groo01_01_0435.htm Biography of Jan Hoogsaat] in ''De groote schouburgh der Nederlantsche konstschilders en schilderessen'' (1718) by [[Arnold Houbraken]], courtesy of the [[Digital library for Dutch literature]]</ref> According to the Netherlands Institute for Art History (RKD), his pupils also included [[Jacob van der Does]] (the Younger), [[Gilliam van der Gouwen]], [[Louis Fabritius Dubourg]], [[Theodor Lubienitzki]], [[Bonaventura van Overbeek]], [[Jan Wandelaar]].<ref>[https://rkd.nl/en/explore/artists/47470 Gerard de Lairesse] in the [[RKD]]</ref>

Works by De Lairesse are now on display at many museums around the world, including the [[Rijksmuseum]] and [[Amsterdams Historisch Museum]] in Amsterdam, the [[Louvre]] in Paris, the [[Metropolitan Museum of Art]] in New York City, the [[National Gallery of Art]] in Washington, D.C., the [[National Portrait Gallery (London)|National Portrait Gallery]] and [[Tate Gallery]] in London, and the [[Cleveland Museum of Art]]. In 2016-20172016–2017, an exhibition and conference dedicated to De Lairesse's work was held at [[Rijksmuseum Twenthe]] in [[Enschede]].<ref>[{{Cite web |url=http://acsga.uva.nl/content/events/conferences/2017/01/gerard-de-lairesse-congres.html |title="Gerard de Lairesse: Heden en Toekomst", Amsterdam Centre for the Study of the Golden Age] |access-date=27 October 2018 |archive-date=27 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181027082445/http://acsga.uva.nl/content/events/conferences/2017/01/gerard-de-lairesse-congres.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

* Three ceiling paintings ''Triomf der Vrede'' (Triumph of Peace) in 1671 for the Amsterdam regent [[Andries de Graeff]]. The paintings glorified the [[De Graeff]] family's role as the protector of the [[Dutch republic]] and the works of art can be viewed as a visual statement opposing the return of the [[House of Orange]] as [[Stadtholder]]s of the republic. They were created for Andries de Graeffs 'Sael' at his mayor’smayor's residence in Amsterdam. The ceiling paintings now adorn the Ferdinand Bol room at the [[Peace Palace]] in The Hague.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.triomfdervrede.nl/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5&Itemid=6&lang=en |title=Triumph of Peace (en) |publisher=Triomfdervrede.nl |access-date=2012-09-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120301115553/http://www.triomfdervrede.nl/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5&Itemid=6&lang=en |archive-date=1 March 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>[http://www.vredespaleis.nl/?pid=59&page=nieuws&id=34 Restoration project Triumph of Peace completed]</ref>

* Most of his plates were originally published by [[Nicolaes Visscher II]], who published a collected edition under the title 'Opus Elegantissimum' in c. {{Circa|1675}}.<ref>[https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/search_the_collection_database/term_details.aspx?bioId=118292 British Museum]</ref>

* A set of illustrations for [[Govert Bidloo]]'s anatomical atlas ''Anatomia Humani Corporis'' (1685). 105 illustrations in: ''Godefridi Bidloo, Medicinae Doctoris & Chirurgi, Anatomia Hvmani Corporis: Centum & quinque Tabvlis Per artificiosiss. G. De Lairesse ad vivum delineatis, Demonstrata, Veterum Recentiorumque Inventis explicata plurimisque, hactenus non-detectis, Illvstrata''<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://anatomia.library.utoronto.ca/islandora/object/anatomia%3ARBAI023|title=Anatomia humani corporis, centum & quinque tabulis, per artificiossis. G. de Lairesse ad vivum delineatis, demonstrata, veterum recentiorumque inventis explicata plurimisque, hactenus non-detectis, illustrata.|last=Bidloo|first=Govard|publisher=Sumptibus viduæ J. a Someren|year=1685|location=Amsterdam|via=University of Toronto Libraries}}</ref><ref>{{cite webbook|author1=Bidloo, Govard |author2=Lairesse, Gérard de [Ill.] |url=http://digi.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/diglit/bidloo1685 |title=Bidloo, Govard; Lairesse, Gérard de [Ill.&#93;: Godefridi Bidloo, Medicinae Doctoris & Chirurgi, Anatomia Hvmani Corporis: Centum & quinque Tabvlis Per artificiosiss. G. De Lairesse ad vivum delineatis, Demonstrata, Veterum Recentiorumque Inventis explicata plurimisque, hactenus non detectis, Illvstrata (Amsterdam, 1685) |publisher=Digi.ub.uni-heidelberg.de |date=2012-08-30 |access-date=2012-09-15}}</ref><!-- Source images appear broken in Heidelberg link. --> Amsterdam 1685

File:Gerard de Lairesse - Philips Tideman - G van der Gouwe - Hendrick Desbordes.png|Title page of ''Groot Schilderboek'', 1712<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=N8Q9AAAAcAAJ Groot schilderboek, waar in de schilderkonst in al haar deelen grondig werd onderweezen, ook door redeneeringen en printverbeeldingen verklaard; met voorbeelden uyt de beste konst-stukken der oude en nieuwe puyk-schilderen, bevestigd : en derzelver wel- en misstand aangeweezen, Volume 1], Gérard de Lairesse, [[Philip Tideman]], G.[[Gilliam van der Gouwen]], Jan van Broekhuizen, [[Jan Caspar Philips]], [[David van Hoogstraten]], [[Johannes Vollenhove]], Abraham Alewyn, [[Matthijs Pool]], published by Henri Desbordes, Amsterdam, 1712, Digital version of the work on [[Google Books]]</ref>

{{Commons category|Gérard de Lairesse-inline}}

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[[Category:People17th-century painters from the Prince-Bishopric of Liège]]

[[Category:BlindDutch blind people from the Netherlands]]