Jacob Adriaensz Bellevois

Dutch, 1620/1622 - 1676

The marine painter Jacob Adriaensz Bellevois was born about 1620 or 1622 in Rotterdam. His teacher is not known, but the influence of Julius Porcellis (c. 1609–1645), who worked in Rotterdam, seems apparent in the monochrome tendencies evident in his style. Bellevois presumably lived and worked in Rotterdam at least until after the death of his first wife, Cornelia Vythoecs [Uithoeks], in 1652. Three years later he married Maria ’t Hert from Gouda. A document indicates that he was living in Gouda in 1671. Around 1673 or 1674 he is mentioned as being in Hamburg. He was buried in Rotterdam on September 19, 1676.

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This painting shows a fleet of sailing ships on choppy water. The horizon is low, and ship sails and masts are visible far in the distance. Closest to us, five large ships are visible. Four of them are large vessels with multiple masts and sails, while one is a smaller sailboat with two sails. This smaller boat is to the right of center, and two small people are visible on it, holding ropes. To the left is the largest boat, which we see from the back. This ship is painted in a dark gray or blue color, with red accents and decorations that appear to be carved or painted on the sides. A red flag flies from this ship, as well as two smaller white and red flags. The other boats fly similar flags. On the side of this vessel, cannons emerge from small compartments. The other large vessels in the painting also have visible cannons. The water is painted in shades of gray and blue, with countless small waves. Some of the water appears to be in shadow, and is so dark it almost looks black, while other areas are a light blue-gray shade. The sky is blue, with billowing gray clouds tinged in light yellow and pink.
Anonymous Artist, Dutch Ships in a Lively Breeze, probably 1650s, oil on canvas, Gift of Mrs. Robert Giles, 1947.3.1

Dutch Ships in a Lively Breeze

Anonymous Artist · probably 1650s · oil on canvas ·  Accession ID  1947.3.1

Bibliography

1753

  • Houbraken, Arnold. De Groote Schouburgh der Nederlantsche Konstschilders en Schilderessen. 3 vols. in 1. The Hague, 1753 (Reprint: Amsterdam, 1976): 3:187.

1891

  • Haverkorn van Rijsewijk, Pieter. "Bellevois, Jakob." Oud Holland 9 (1891): 52-55.

1915

  • Bredius, Abraham. Künstler-Inventare: Urkunden zur Geschichte der holländischen Kunst des XVIten, XVIIten und XVIIIten Jahrhunderts. 8 vols. The Hague, 1915-1922: 5(1918):1648-1650.

1973

  • Bol, Laurens J. Die holländische Marinemalerei des 17, Jahrhunderts. Braunschweig, 1973: 192-196.

1995

  • Wheelock, Arthur K., Jr.Dutch Paintings of the Seventeenth Century. The Collections of the National Gallery of Art Systematic Catalogue. Washington, D.C., 1995: 19.

1996

  • Giltaij, Jeroen, and Jan Kelch. Praise of ships and the sea: The Dutch Marine Painters of the 17th Century. Exh. cat. Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Rotterdam; Staatliche Museum zu Berlin, Gemäldegalerie im Bodemuseum. Rotterdam, 1996: 239.