Cornelis Van Polenburch

Cornelis van Poelenburch was one of the most famous and influential Utrecht painters of the period. Around 1611 he was apprenticed to Abraham Bloemaert. By 1617 he was in Rome and in 1623 was a founding member of the Roman Schildersbent. A Society of Dutch and Flemish artists, its members were called the Bentvueghels (birds of a feather), in which Poelenburch received the nickname “Satyr”. In Italy the artist became quite famous for his landscapes and was employed by Grand Duke Cosimo II de’ Medici of Florence. Paul Brill was influential on his work during this period as well as Bartholomeus Breenbergh and Filippo Napoletano.

In April 1627 Poelenburch returned to Utrecht and immediately became one of the city’s most important painters. According to Joachim van Sandrart, Rubens visited his studio a few months after his return and ordered several paintings. He was one of the most popular artists at The Hague court, where he received important commissions such as painting the children of the Winter King, Frederick V of Bohemia who was in residence. In 1629 he married Jacomina van Steenre the daughter of a notary. From 1637 – 1641 he worked for Charles I in London. By 1642 he had returned to Utrecht. In 1656 he was an officer (overman) in their painter’s guild, and dean from 1657 – 1658 as well as 1664. The most important collector in Utrecht Willem Vincent, Baron van Wyttenhorst owned at least fifty-five paintings by the artist. Poelenburch’s repertoire, which could command very high prices, included historical, mythological and religious scenes, pastoral landscapes as well as portraits. He also painted staffage for the works of Jan Both, Alexander Kierincx, Bartholomeus van Bassen, Dirck van Delen and Nicolaes de Gijselaer. His pupils and followers included Abraham van Cuylenborch, Jan van Haensbergen, Gerard Hoet, Carel de Hooch, Reinier van der Laeck, Dirck van der Lisse, Daniel Vertangen and François Verwilt among others. Examples of Poelenburch’s work can be found in more than fifty museums across Europe and the United States.