A lost monument in Angers
The First Art Newspaper on the Net    Established in 1996 Friday, November 8, 2024


A lost monument in Angers
Hendrik Verschuring (Gorinchem 1627 – Dordrecht 1690), The Pont des Treilles on the Maine in Angers (also known as the Pont-Neuf in Angers), signed and dated H. Verschuring fecit A° 1663 in the lower center foreground. Oil on canvas, 26 x 36 ½ inches (66 x 92.7 cm.) Photo: Courtesy Lawrence Steigrad Fine Arts.



NEW YORK, NY.- Gorinchem is a small town in the middle of the Netherlands approximately 40 km/25 mi south of Utrecht. The only fully fortified town still in existence in the country, it has a rich history of trade sitting firmly on the river Merwede. Because it serves as a transit route to the south, including Brussels and Paris, and to the east and the German states, Gorinchem, like many cities in the 17th century Dutch Republic during this time it was flourishing. What makes Gorinchem so interesting is how many artists came from this small but notable place.

Hendrik Verschuring was born in Gorinchem in 1627 just after the end of the 12 years truce (a break from the 80 years’ war). He was the son of a military man. How much of one is probably up for debate, but his father is noted as such. We must wonder if Verschuring’s father wanted to keep his son out of military service or if he felt it wasn’t for him, but at age 8, Verschuring was sent to apprentice with the portrait painter Dirck Govertsz. who was also known to have lived in Gorinchem during this time.

Reading this, it seems like an interesting thing for a military father to do and the modern reaction would be to assume that this child was too precocious to join the military and what was a father to do but send him in another direction. However, the history of this small walled city makes you wonder if this was fatherly ambition. Gorinchem had already produced an impressive array of 17th century artistic stars; Abraham Bloemaert (b.1566), Anthonie Verstraelen (b.1593/1594), Aert van der Neer (b.1603) and Cornelis Saftleven (b.1607), among others. However, most of these artists left quite quickly, never to return.

Not too much is known about Govertsz. or Verschuring’s time there, but one can imagine it was the equivalent of being sent off to a very strict school. The senior artist was already 60 when the 8-year-old arrived, and he likely had a heavy number of laborious chores lined up for the child and we can assume the young Verschuring was worked hard.

In about 1643, Verschuring ‘graduated’ and was then sent off to an apprenticeship in Utrecht. Gorinchem had just finished modernizing with brand new fortifications and it was still 5 years before the Treaty of Munster would establish the Republics, so it was not a peaceful time. The parents and teacher must have seen real promise in the boy if they took an opportunity to send him away during war. Utrecht at this time was a lively city with a mix of Catholics and Protestants. It was known to be a tolerant city. At the studio of Jan Both, after Both’s return from Italy, Verschuring probably started out, as in Govertsz. studio, doing whatever chores the senior artist required, eventually growing into a talented young artist. However, Utrecht was also artistically collaborative. Verschuring was surely hanging out with some of the most important artists at that time and absorbing not only the talent but the tolerance for new ideas. Surely Both must have extolled the virtues of a travel abroad and in 1647 Verschuring ‘graduated’ from Both’s studio and started the celebrated gap year(s) in Italy.

It is likely Verschuring lived it up in Italy, a member of the Bentveughels (sadly his Bent name is unknown) and considered a Bamboccianti painter along with many of his compatriots including Jan Baptiste Weenix, Michael Sweerts, Karel Dujardin and Anton Goubau, he was exposed to countless styles and creative ideas. It is interesting to think how lucky these artists were to escape the war, but also how dangerous their travel must have been. But after a couple of years, he started to return home. He met the son of the Amsterdam mayor in Paris on the homeward bound journey and was convinced to extend his stay and return to Rome.

Around 1652, with all the advice and experience under his belt, Verschuring left Rome and returned to Gorinchem, a place he had not lived in for almost 15 years. The Anglo-Dutch war was just starting, and it must have felt strange to come back after living in Paris, Rome, and Venice. By even today’s standards Gorinchem is not a metropolis by any stretch of the imagination. However, this worldly education he received paid off. More interestingly is why he returned to Gorinchem. Most of the great artists had moved away permanently, but Verschuring clearly had a pride of place.

Verschuring not only threw himself into his work but into his beloved town. He married (twice) and had a very successful career as an artist. He was also mayor of the town at one point, and continuously had very active rolls in the town civics as an alderman and other civic positions. Verschuring clearly loved his town and his place, but he continuously painted Italianate Landscapes, with these fantasy images of Italy and his French travels. He was drawing on his past experiences to make beautiful art. Did he miss his freedom and travel? Or maybe the life of a big city artist? Or maybe, just maybe he was just happy in the place he was. Content with his life but wanted to encourage others to make the journey. We will never know what brought him and kept him in Gorinchem, but he definitely does disprove the notion you can never go home again. Clearly some of us can!










Today's News

August 14, 2023

The dog walker with the Chuck Close painting finally has his day

A lost monument in Angers

Tate and Museum of the Home jointly acquire Rebecca Solomon's "A Young Teacher"

The dream was universal access to knowledge. The result was a fiasco.

Tate St Ives presents the first major museum exhibition of the Casablanca Art School

On the Hudson, visions for a new Native American Art

Crypto's next craze? Orbs that scan your eyeballs.

Rome's iconic umbrella pines imperiled by pests and the ax

36 Hours in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

The roller rink popcorn factory and the jailhouse pub

Gerald Peters Contemporary opens 'Steven J Yazzie: Throwing Stars Over Monsters'

National Museum of African Art releases "Heroes" publication

Embrace the arts: Hilliard Art Museum announces annual fall exhibition opening

Joan Kaplan Davidson, philanthropist who championed New York, dies at 96

Romance readers swoon for Brooklyn's newest bookstore

Salon Art + Design returns with new galleries & unique displays of collectible design

David Lewis now representing Lisa Jo

Keith Waldrop, professor and award-winning poet, dies at 90

Tom Jones, half of record-setting 'Fantasticks' team, dies at 95

John Barrett, hair stylist for the fashionable elite, dies at 66

In Istanbul, revered shrines receive the wishes and woes of a modern city

Patrons want straight answers in Crooked House Pub's demise

Acid Reflux Diet: Foods to Avoid and Foods to Eat

The Art of Healing: An Interdisciplinary Exploration of Performing Arts in Mental Health

Are Karaoke Machines Worth it? A Guide for Renters

Booklet Printing - A complete guide from a Booklet Provider

Unravelling the Top 8 Reverse Image Search Tools and Their Functionality

Elevate Your Branding Game with Custom Acrylic Keychains

Fashion Forward and Skyward Bound: Discover the Latest NASA Clothing Trends

From Seoul to Milan: How Ponte Art Group is Connecting Artists and Markets

Pattachitra: From Palm Leaves to Galleries - A Timeless Journey of Indian Painting

Popping into Luck: The World of Pop Slots Unveiled




Museums, Exhibits, Artists, Milestones, Digital Art, Architecture, Photography,
Photographers, Special Photos, Special Reports, Featured Stories, Auctions, Art Fairs,
Anecdotes, Art Quiz, Education, Mythology, 3D Images, Last Week, .

 



Founder:
Ignacio Villarreal
(1941 - 2019)
Editor & Publisher: Jose Villarreal
Art Director: Juan José Sepúlveda Ramírez
Writer: Ofelia Zurbia Betancourt

Attorneys
Truck Accident Attorneys
Accident Attorneys
Holistic Dentist
Abogado de accidentes
สล็อต
สล็อตเว็บตรง

Royalville Communications, Inc
produces:

ignaciovillarreal.org juncodelavega.com facundocabral-elfinal.org
Founder's Site. Hommage
to a Mexican poet.
Hommage
       

The First Art Newspaper on the Net. The Best Versions Of Ave Maria Song Junco de la Vega Site Ignacio Villarreal Site Parroquia Natividad del Señor
Tell a Friend
Dear User, please complete the form below in order to recommend the Artdaily newsletter to someone you know.
Please complete all fields marked *.
Sending Mail
Sending Successful