Chicken Coop

Adriaen van Utrecht was a great Flemish artist who was born in the city of Antwerp and was best known for his still lives. Those with fruits, vegetables, fish, fowl, and animal compositions were deeply sought after and appreciated in his time. In 1614, the painter became Herman de Rijt’s pupil. After mastering his technique, Van Utretcht travelled to France, Italy, and Germany. On August 14th of 1625 he became the master of the Guild of Saint Luke of Antwerp. Between 1625 and 1626 the artist had seven assistants in his studio; one of them was Ph. Ghyselaer. On September of 1628 Van Utretcht married Constantia, a poet who was W. van Nieudlant’s daughter. Constantia helped her husband and collaborated on some works. In 1646 at The Hague, Adriaen van Utrecht collaborated with Willeboirts Bosschaert and occasionally with E. Quellinus as well as several master painters such as Jordaens, Th. Rombouts, D. Teniers II, and J. van Balen. In these collaborations Van Utrecht would paint the animals or other still life component in the composition. The artist was highly influenced by Fr. Snyders’ works that feature big dining tables filled with game. These works tend to be large scale and have very bright colors that contrast beautifully with the chiaroscuro. It is common for the painter’s works to be mistaken to those by J. Fyt. Ellias Vonck, who also painted still lives with a hunting and bird theme. Adriaen van Utrecht was a very renowned and successful artist in his time.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

• E. Greindl,” Les peintres flamands de nature norte”, Brussels, 1956
• Walther Bernt, “The Netherlandish Painters of the Seventeenth Century”, 1969, Vol. 3, p. 119
• J. de Maere & M. Wabbesm, “Ilustrated Dictionary of 17th Century Flemish Painters”,  Text, p. 401
• E. Benezit, “Dictionaire des peintres, sculpteurs, dessinateurs et graveurs”, 1999, Vol. 13, p. 928-929
• N. De Poorter, “Rubens onder de wapenen. De Antwerpse schilders als gildenbroeders van de kolveniers in de eerste heft van de 17de eeuw”, Jaarboek van het Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten Antwerpen 1988, p. 203-252; p. 252
• F.G. Meijer, “Some Flowerpaintings by Adriaen van Utrecht (1599-1652), a Still Life of Fruit by Constancia van Utrecht (after 1606-after 1647) and a Portrait of Adriaen and Constancia”, Oud Holland 109 (1995), p. 165-169
• Adriaan van der Willigen, Fred G. Maijer, “A Dictionary of Dutch and Flemish Still – life Painters Working in Oils”, 1525 – 1725, p.198
• Laurens J. Bol, “Holländische Maler des 17. Jahrunderts Nahe Den Grossen Meistern”, 1969, p.300
• Scott A. Sullivan, “The Dutch Gamepiece”, p. 3, 9, 19, 22, 29, 48. 85

EXHIBITIONS

Madrid, Soraya Cartategui Gallery, Feriarte, November 2014.

MUSEUMS

A. van Utrecht’s works can be found in many museums around the world including: Amsterdam- Rijksmuseum, Antwerp- K.M.S.K (Royal Museum of Fine Arts), Brussels, Budapest- Szepmüveszeti Museum, Copenhagen- Statens Museum, Madrid- Museo del Prado, Oxford- Ashmolean, Philadelphia- Museum of Art Philadelphia, Madrid – Museo del Prado, Munich, Stockholm, Vienna- Kunsthit Museum.