Life and work Maria van Oosterwijck

flower still life, 1669, cincinnati art museum

van oosterwijck worked in delft , later moved utrecht. worked de heem, , years later produced first professional piece had been created independently. when de heem moved antwerp, van oosterwijck had ample opportunity independent painting.

sometime in early- mid-1670s, moved amsterdam, studio opposite workshop of fellow flower painter willem van aelst. van aelst courted her, refused hand, , reportedly stopped pursuing because devotion painting more important her. van oosterwijck remained single throughout life, raised nephew, had been orphaned.

in addition being talented painter, savvy businesswoman; obtained services of agent in amsterdam market pieces germans. among patrons louis xiv of france, holy roman emperor leopold i, augustus ii strong, , william iii of england; sold 3 pieces king of poland. despite fact skillfully executed paintings of flowers sought out dutch , other collectors, denied membership in painters guild, because women not allowed join.

still life flowers in decorative vase, c. 1670–1675, mauritshuis

very few women professional artists during 1600s. in 2004 book on dutch golden age paintings art historian christopher lloyd, van oosterwijck woman work included. writers tended depict female artists correlating virtues traditionally held women similar values gleaned interpretation of paintings. van oosterwijck, devoted life painting rather being wife , mother, proved challenging subject these writers, , accounts may not portray formed personality. more personal aspects of paintings largely unexplored. in contrast rachel ruysch (1664–1750), married , had ten children, , written in personable , glowing terms.

as homage van oosterwijck s skill floral painter – considered acceptable vocation woman of time – wallerant vaillant painted portrait of holding palette. 1671 portrait, in amsterdam s rijksmuseum, shows holding bible in other hand. portrait of her, attributed gerard de lairesse, features posing poet dirk schelte. in 1673, schelte had written poem in tribute beauty of van oosterwijck s paintings, of character. portrait appears reference poem, picturing van oosterwijck, palette , brushes, painter-muse, serving inspiration schelte poet.

she taught servant geertgen wyntges, known geertje pieters, mix paints, , trained painter too. after van oosterwijck died, wyntges lived independently, supporting herself painter.

still life flowers, insects , shell, 1689, royal collection. van oosterwijck s last known painting.

in 1689, van oosterwijck created last known painting, still life in collection of majesty queen @ london s kensington palace. painting, still life flowers, insects , shell, acquired royal collection during queen anne s reign, van oosterwijck work. died @ home in uitdam, north holland, 12 kilometres (7.5 mi) northeast of amsterdam, in 1693. date of death reported 12 november, sources claim in december.

arnold houbraken, biographer of dutch golden age artists, eulogized van oosterwijck, did not consider professional artist, despite large sums paid paintings such high-profile collectors various members of european royalty.