page_title: Andries van Eertvelt
section_title: Work
hierarchical_section_title: Andries van Eertvelt / Work
context_page_description: Andries van Eertvelt, was a Flemish painter, draughtsman and engraver who was one of the first Flemish artists to specialize in marine art. Several of his pupils also became prominent marine artists.
context_section_description: Van Eertvelt is regarded as the first Flemish marine painter. His marine paintings covered the whole range of battle scenes, storms, views of ships in rivers and harbours, night scenes etc. His favourite themes were Dutch ships at sea and views of ships in southern, often imaginary harbours.
  Whereas there may have been an influence of Dutch marine painter Hendrick Cornelisz Vroom, some regard the impact on his style of the work of the 16th century Flemish painter Pieter Bruegel the Elder as more significant. It is assumed that van Eertvelt spent some time in the Dutch Republic in the early 1600s although there is no record of this other than his paintings of Dutch ships and ports. He may have resided in Haarlem, but there is no proof for the widespread suggestion that he studied under Vroom. He may very well have familiarized himself with Vroom's style in Antwerp where paintings of Vroom as well as copies and imitations after them were readily available in the art market. Van Eertvelt is known to have made copies of Vroom's work but was able to develop his own style.
  In his early paintings, van Eertvelt adopted a bright, mannerist style and his palette was characterized by greenish-black and brown tones. He often relied on white to make the rigging of the ships stand out against the dark sea. This style is visible in The Return to Amsterdam of the Second Expedition to the East Indies on 19 July 1599 dated in the 1610s.
  Later he changed to a softer and more subtle palette in particular after his return from Italy. He then favoured views of southern harbours, with calm seas painted in soft tones. This mature style is visible in the Two Ships at Anchor in the Hermitage Museum.
  Van Eertvelt collaborated occasionally with other Antwerp painters. It is currently believed that the seascape in van Dyck's Portrait of Nicolaes van der Borght, Merchant in Antwerp is by van Eertvelt.
  Van Eertvelt was also active as an engraver. The current whereabouts of an etching by his hand, depicting the frozen river Scheldt in 1621 and another of the fort 'Vlaams Hoofd' in Antwerp mentioned in reports are not known.
caption: Two Ships at Anchor, after 1640 (Hermitage Museum)
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