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Adriaen van der Werff

1659-1722 Netherlands/Baroque

 

Brief Biography-Adriaen Van der Werff was born in Kreglinger-Ambacht, Rotterdam in 1659. He studied with the portraitist Cornelis Picolet for two years and spent four years as a disciple of Elgon Van der Neer,after which he set up a studio in Rotterdam. When visiting Rotterdam, the Elector Palatine was so taken aback by Werff’s works that he hired him to paint in Dusseldorf for six months on receipt of a pension plus six thousand florins and to his wife, a toilette of silver. As a result, Van der Werff received a knighthood in 1703. Arnold Houbraken estimated Van der Werff as the best Dutch artist. His initial paintings were portraits influenced by Caspar Netscher, but he later changed to painting small historical works. His younger brother Pieter, whom he tutored, found success painting primarily in a domestic manner.

 

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Adam and
Eve

Adam and Eve

Amorous
Shepherds

Amorous Shepherds

An Allegory
of Virtue

An Allegory of Virtue

Cupid
and Venus

Cupid and Venus

Flora with
Putti

Flora with Putti Strewing Flowers

Girl Blowing
Bubbles

Girl Blowing Bubbles Behind a Vanitas Still-life

Holy
Family

Holy Family

Lot and his
Daughters

Lot and his Daughters

Amorous
Couple

Amorous Couple Spied upon by Children

Noli me
tangere

Noli me tangere

Sarah
Presenting

Sarah Presenting Hagar to Abraham

Shepherd-
Shepherdess

Shepherd and Shepherdess


Venus

Venus and Cupid


Diogenes

Diogenes

Self-
Portrait

Self-Portrait


Shepherd

Shepherd and Shepherdess two

The Judgement
of Paris

The Judgement of Paris

Venus being
kissed by Cupid

Venus being kissed by Cupid