HIERONYMOUS BOSCH (1450-1516)– Den Bosch late 15^th century, his realism presaged that of 17^th century painting and his work has many features of modern Surrealism. Other artists had more in common with the Flemish primitives, such as Geertgen tot Sint Jans. For more information see Den Bosch.

CORNELIUS ENGEBRECHTSZOON (1468-1533)– retained a Gothic style with crowded compositions and rather tormented linear painting. A member of the Leiden school and a many of his works can be seen in the Stedelijk Museum De Lakenhal in Leiden.

JAN MOSTAERT – Born in Haarlem in the 15^th century. Painted religious scenes and was painter to Margaret of Austria. ‘Seven Works of Charity’ and others in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.

GEERTGEN TOT SINT JANS (1465-1495) – Leiden school and is the most gifted painter of the late 15^th century. Although still turned towards the Middle Ages, he showed virtuosity in the treatment of fabrics. ‘Adoration of the Magi’ Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam

JAN VAN SCOREL (1495-1562)– introduced the Renaissance to the Northern Netherlands, when he returned from Rome in 1524. 1^st influenced by Italian art. ‘Portrait of a Young Scholar’ Museum Boijmans van Beuningen in Rotterdam. Pupil of Jacob Corneliszoon van Oostsanen. He was part of the Utrecht school of painting and was an excellent portrait painter. ‘The Baptism of Christ’ is in the Frans Hals Museum in Haarlem, and is considered one of his best works. The Italian elegance of ‘Mary Magdalene’ can be seen in the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. ‘Christ entering Jerusalem’ – central panel of the Lochorst Triptych, Central Museum Utrecht.

MAARTEN VAN HEEMSKERCK – (1498-1574) pupil of Jan van Scorel during his stay in Haarlem from 1527-9, was also a romantic painter. He was greatly influenced by the Italian Renaissance.

LUCAS VAN LEYDEN (1489 or 1494-1533) – is the great Renaissance painter. Influenced by Italian art his ‘Last Judgement’ can be seen at De Lakenhal in Leiden. It has a balance of composition, a sense of depth and elgant craftsmanship with good colours. ‘Adoration of the Golden Calf ‘ shows great mastery of composition and can be seen in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.

PIETER AERTSEN – not influenced by Italian art. Amsterdam artist painted subtle landscapes and interior scenes with still life compositions in the background. Paintings can be seen in the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

The 17^th century was mostly dominated by Rembrandt, Hals, Vermeer and Ruisdael. Flemish artists continued to paint religious scenes, Dutch art became more secular and varied, since much of it was painted by well-off middle-class homes. Reflected in the growing prosperity.

BARTHOLOMEUS VAN DER HELST (1613-70) – Painted many traditional, formal portraits of wealthy citizens and members of the House of Orange, as well as group portraits – for guilds, civic guard, surgeons and governing bodies of almshouses. Originated from Haarlem.

FRANS HALS (1581/5-1666) – had the non-conformist type that came with genius, he was a masterly portrait painter who captured the essence of his models –as shown in the striking lively portrait of the ‘The Jolly Drinker’ in the Rijksmuseum, the painting of ‘Isaac Massa and his Wife’, also in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. Most of his group paintings are displayed in the Frans Hals Museum in Haarlem.

REMBRANDT VAN RIJN (1606-1669) – considered one of the greatest painters of the Golden Age, one of his group portraits ‘ The Anatomy Lesson of Doctor Tulp’ is in the Mauritshuis in The Hague. Also in the Mauritshuis is the nude painting of ‘Susanna’ (1637), the ‘Simeon in the Temple’ (1631) with its subdued muted light, the more fiery works like ‘Saul and David’(1658), and ‘The Two Negroes’ (1661). More biblical scenes, portraits and self-portraits including his famous ‘Night Watch’ are in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.

GERARD DOU (1613-75) – is perhaps the most conscientious of all the intimate genre painters of Leiden. He took to the chiaroscuro when a pupil of the master , Rembrandt, but he produced mainly scenes of bourgeois life "Young Woman Dressing", Museum Boijmans van Beuningen in Rotterdam. ‘Self Portrait with Pipe’ Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam and ‘Young Mother’ in the Mauritshuis in The Hague.

FERDINAND BOL – closed to Rembrandt’s style.

NICOLAES MAES – warm colours to paint calm interior scenes. ‘Girl at a Window: The Daydreamer’ and ‘Old Woman at Prayer’ in Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

AERT VAN GELDER – ‘Portrait of Ernst van Beveren’ in Rijksmuseum, Amsterdan.

CAREL FABITIUS – most gifted, died young. ‘Goldfinch’ (1654) painted in the year of his death at the age of 32 is in the Mauritiushuis in The Hague.

PHILIPS KONINCK – landscape painter

Rembrandt painted some landscapes but there were more specialised painters, such as...

HERCULES SEGHERS – (1589/90-1638), a remarkable landscape painter was born in Haarlem.

SALOMON VAN RUIJSDAEL (1600-70) – Born in Naarden, but lived in Haarlem, was one of the foremost pioneers of Dutch landscape painting. ‘Landscape with Ferryboat’ Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

JAN VAN GOYEN (1596-1656) – born in Leiden and moved to Utrecht in 1631, one of the pioneers of Dutch landscape painting. He was a great painter of pale, monochromatic landscapes with immense skies covered with clouds. ‘Summer and Winter’ and ‘Landscape with Two Oaks’ Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

JACOB VAN RUISDAEL – (1628-82) – born in Haarlem, he was the pupil and nephew of Salomon van Ruysdael and was the greatest landscape painter with romantic scenes. He painted more tormented landscapes, already romantic with dark cliffs, waterfalls, trees menaced by storm and disquieting chiaroscuros. ‘The Windmill at Wijk bij Duurstede’ and ‘View of Haarlem’ can be seen in Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

ESAIAS VAN DE VELDE (1591-1630) – sombre ‘Cattle Ferry’ Rijksmuseum.

MEINDERT HOBBEMA – tall trees vivid green sunlight foliage. ‘Watermill’ Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

CORRELIS VAN POELENBURGH (1586-1667) – painted with precision luminous landscapes. Italian style

ALBERT CUYP – was a very versatile landscape painter whose compositions featured shepherds, cattle and small human figures, paintings in Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.

NICOLAES BERCHEM – (1620-83) – Born in Haarlem son of artist Pieter Claeszoon, painted landscapes with shepherds and flocks

PAULUS POTTER (1625-54) – painted cows and horses in extensive landscapes.

PHILIPS WOUWERMAN (1619-68) – Artist from Haarlem, painted horses and riders

HENDRICK AVECAMP (1585-1634)– specialised in winter scenes, such as ‘Winter Landscape with Ice Skaters’ miniture world of ice skaters, in the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

AERT VAN DER NEER (1603-/4-77) – winter scenes and rivers by moonlight

WILLEM VAN DER VELDE the Elder (1611-93) – Leiden school who specialised in painting pictures of naval battles, in which the light formed an integral part of the composition. The Van de Veldes ended their lives in London, where they became court painters to Charles II.

WILLEM V.D. VELDE THE YOUNGER (son) (1633-1707) – marine painter same as his father. Some outstanding seascapes and naval battles are on display at the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam including ‘The Cannon Shot’.

LUDOLF BAKHUIZEN - church interiors

JAN VAN DE CAPELLE – (1629-79) – master of marine paintings and church interiors.

JAN PORCELLIS – church interiors

PIETER SAENREDAM – (1597-1665) - specialises in church and other interiors, His impressive painting ‘Interior of St. Mary’s Church at Utrecht’ and Amsterdam’s Old Town Hall are in the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

EMANUEL DE WITTE – church interiors

JOB and GERRIT BERCKHEYDE (brothers) – architecture painters

The Genre paintings often held a hidden moral message and the public were well aware of how to read these symbols. A map frequently indicated the absence of the head of the household, gone travelling overseas on trade; a dog in inns and brothels pointed to gluttony and licentiousness; a cat and a mouse reinforced the sense of the transience and uncertainty of human existence, while the ploy of a painting within a painting often pointed out a moral or a warning.

GERARD TER BORCH (1617-81) – considered by some to be as talented as Rembrandt. He began his career as a painter of barrack scenes, his later more refined art ‘Gallant Conversation’ and ‘Seated Girl’ represents a distinct departure and stands in a class of his own. His paintings are in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.

FRANS VAN MIERIS the ELDER (1635-81) – was considered one of the greatest painters by his contempories. He painted domestic scenes, depicted smiling people in refined interiors, pupil of Gerrit Dou.

GABRIEL METSU (1629-67) – painted domestic scenes with delicate brushwork. He was a master in his manner of treating fabrics and the substance of objects; he treated with great sensitivity slightly sentimental subjects. ‘The Sick Child’ is in the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

PIETER DE HOOCH (1628-1683) – painted the daily lives of the wealthy and is famous for his geometric interiors, ‘Woman with a Child in a Pantry’ and ‘Courtyard Behind a House’ are in the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

JOHANNES VERMEER (1632-75) – mainly interior scenes, the painting ‘View of Delft’ and ‘Girl with a Pearl Earring’ (1660) are in the Mauritshuis, The Hague, for more information on this artist see Delft. Four of his masterpieces are in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, ‘The Little Street’, painted from the windows of his house: ‘The Milkmaid’, pouring milk with a measured gesture: ‘Woman in Blue Reading a Letter’, in luminous blue tones: and ‘The Love Letter’.

ADRIAEN VAN OSTADE (1610-85) – Born in Haarlem, a genre painter whose work is characterised by extreme realism, painted rollicking peasant scenes. ‘Peasants in an Interior’ and ‘The Skaters’ Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Some of his scenes of country life are in the Mauritshuis in The Hague.

JAN STEEN (1626-79) – depicts very busy scenes with humour. His paintings display the whole human comedy, where somewhat dishevelled people indulge in various pleasures; they play music, eat and play in a very unruly atmosphere, cheerful and humorous pictures with moral message. ‘Merry Company’ and ‘Girl Eating Oysters’ are in the Mauritshuis in The Hague. ‘The Feast of St Nicolas’ and ‘Woman at her Toilet’ Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

ABRAHAM BLOEMAERT (1564 1651) – born in Gorinchem, passed on his admiration of Italian painting to many of his pupils. Also Mannerism style of painting, Utrecht school. Paintings in Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

HENDRICK TERBRUGGHEN (1564-1651) – born in Deventer but worked in Utrecht and on his return from Italy was one of the first to introduce ‘Caravaggism’ chiaroscuro to the Netherlands.

GERARD VAN HONTHORST (1590-1656) – born in Utrecht and who also became a faithful imitator of Caravaggio after a visit to Italy.

JUDITH LEYSTER – pupil of Frans Hals influenced by Caravaggio. ‘The Serenade’ can be seen in the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

JAN MIENSE MOLENAER (1609/10-1668) – painted children, often in theatrical settings, symbolising freedom from care.

Origin in Flanders, Belgium

PIETER CLAESZOON (1597/8-1661) – Based in Haarlem. His work and that of Willem Claeszoon Heda, are characterised by a combination of objects carefully chosen for their symbolism. Gold and silver cups and fragile glasses and jugs often feature, serving as a warning against excess and acting as a reminder of the transitory nature of life – a favourite theme for the still life genre.

WILLEM CLAESZOON HEDA (1598-1680) & FLORIS CLAESZOON VAN DIJCK – Tables covered with the remains of a meal, glasses and dishes reflecting the light.

WILLEM KALFF (1619-93) – more colourful and Baroque. As prosperty increased in the Netherlands religious themes began to be replaced by more elaborate fruit and flower vases, more splendid gold and silver cups and rich tapestries appear in portraits and sumptuous still lifes. Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.

ABRAHAM VAN BEYEREN 1620/1-90) – Similar style of painting as Willem Kalff, colourful and Baroque

JAN DAVIDSZOON DE HEEM (1603-83/4) – born in Utrecht and lived in Leiden, he specialised in the Vanitas still-life paintings, colourful and Baroque.

JAN BREUGHEL – ‘Still Life with Flowers’ in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam

Decline of paintings in 18^th century

CORNELIS TROOST – Amsterdam painter inspired by theatre

JACOB WITH – grisailles in popular forms of household decoration of the wealthy

The Hague School - between 1870 and 1890 a group of painters tried to renew painting and mainly the art of landscapes in the manner of the Barbizon School in France. The Hague painters did not set out to achieve great colours or great draftsmanship. Grays and browns were the dominant colours and their works always expressed a certain melancholy.

JOZEF ISRAÊL – painter of fishing scenes and portraits. He led the Hague School, which was the rebirth of Dutch art, nature, beaches, dunes and lives of fishermen.

HW MESDAG – painter of numerous landscapes and the famous ‘Mesdag Panorama’ which is housed in his former home, now a museum in The Hague, along with his collection of arts and crafts.

ANTON MAUVE (1838-88) – painter of the Gooi Heathland. Also worked in Laren , is sometimes attached to the Laren School. ‘Morning Ride along the Beach’ (1876) Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.

ALBERT NERHUYS (1844-1914) – also worked in Laren, painter of household interiors.

JB JONGKIND – precursor of the Impressionlists, full of light and atmosphere

GEORGE HENDRICK BREITNER – Horsemen and old Amsterdam

ISAAC ISRAÊLS – son of Jozef, beach scenes and portraits. Some of his works in the Frans Hals Museum in Haarlem.

VINCENT VAN GOGH – was the greatest figure of the late 19^th century. The instability of Van Gogh’s mind is reflected in his canvasses, which swirl with thick brushstrokes. His early paintings were sombre, but under the influence of Impressionism, became lighter and more colourful. Many of his masterpieces can be seen in the Kroller-Muller Museum in De Hoge Veluwe near Arnhem or in the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. ‘Garden at Arles’ and ‘Poppy Field’ are in the Gemeente Museum in The Hague.

JAN TOOROP – He began his career as an Impressionist painter, but later turned to Symbolism, in which he held an important place in Europe along with: JOHAN THORN PRIKKER, but later took an interest in the Art Niveau movement, painting a large number of posters in this style.

PIET MONDRIAAN – born in Amersfoort, was one of the greatest innovators of his time. Most of his paintings and drawings including his last painting ‘Victory Boogie Woogie’ (1943) can be seen in the Gemeente Museum in The Hague. He is the driving force behind the ‘De Stijl’ movement (1917-31) and later he helped to found the Constructivist movement.

THEO VAN DOESBURG and JJP OUD – ‘De Stijl’ movement.

HERMAN KRUYDER inter war period

JAN WIEGERS – leader of Expressionist movement ‘De Ploeg’ 1918-30, dramatic contrasts in colour.

HENDRIK WERKMAN – most important member of De Ploeg movement, made radical changes in woodcuts and typography.

CHARLEY TOOROP – realist style (daughter of Jan)

KEES VAN DONGEN- Rotterdam, became famous in Paris.

The "Magic Realist", was a group of artists, who painted in a cold, precise, realist style. Carel Willink’s description of their work is perhaps the most insightful of this brief fling with expressionism: ‘Our vision is the confrontation with the never reassuring, never completely comprehensible world of phenomena in which the smallest and most familiar object can suddenly turn into something frightening; a world stranger and more dreadful in its haughty impenetrability than the most terrifying nightmare’.

MC ESCHER (1898-1972) – A collection of MC Escher is in The Palace at Lange Voorhout in The Hague. There are famous ‘impossible’ prints such as "Day and Night" in which birds seem to grow out of Dutch pastures and a number of self-portraits. Escher made images that make your eyes tumble: fishes turn into birds, water flows upwards and ants walk endlessly in circles.

CoBrA 1948-51 – Initials of Copenhagen, Brussels and Amsterdam

The artists of the movement experimented with drawings on the influence of folk art, primitivism, naïve painting and the drawings of children and the mentally ill. In 1995, the COBRA Museum opened in Amstelveen, a suburb of Amsterdam. The main focus of the collection is modern art from 1945 onwards and it features leading works from the short-lived COBRA movement. There is also a collection of semi-abstract Netherlandish art from the 1940s and 1950s.

KAREL APPEL – Eindhoven. A collection of modern art including Karel Appel is in the Frans Hals Museum in Haarlem.

JAN SCHOONBHOVEN – Dutch group NUL 1960s

JAN DIBBETS AND GER VAN EIK – Photography

ROB VAN KONINGSBRUGGEN - 1970s

ROB SCHOLTE AND MARLENE DUMAS – 1980s, newspapers, magazines and other media.