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Gerrit Dou

June 28th, 2006 · Posted by Skuds in Life · No Comments · Life

This week’s revelation has been the paintings of Gerrit Dou.

I have been overlooking his paintings in the National Gallery while rushing off to see the famous Rembrandts, Vermeers and de Hoochs, but today I stopped and looked at this example of what are called his ‘niche’ paintings. (An interior scene viewed through a window or other opening – see blogs can be educational!)

The National has this one and another very similar one done by a follower of his hanging just to its left. I just cannot believe the amount of detail in these pictures.

I used to think that Canaletto’s Venetian paintings were intricate, but actually they are very cleverly done to just look that way. Get up close and most of the figures are painted with great economy but from a distance it gives the impression of detail. (The architecture is much more detailed) This painting, however, is more impressive the closer you get to it.

With some paintings you admire the effect or the composition, but with this one I am bowled over by the technique – a painting for the mind rather than for the heart, as I suppose a lot of the 17th century Dutch paintings are. I do have a weakness for that type of painting, like the Samuel Scotts in the Tate.

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