(b Gorinchem, 24 Dec 1566; d Utrecht, 13 Jan 1651). Painter, draughtsman, writer and teacher. His long, successful career and many prominent pupils, especially among the Utrecht Caravaggisti, made him one of Utrecht’s principal painters in the first half of the 17th century. During his lifetime he enjoyed high esteem for his paintings of religious and mythological subjects and for his numerous drawings. At first he worked in a Mannerist style, then in a Caravaggesque manner, finally adopting a distinctive, decorative synthesis of both approaches.

Part of the Bloemaert family

• Bloemaert, Abraham
  • Bloemaert
  • Geest, Wybrand de, I
  • Netherlands, the, §III, 4(v): Painting and graphic arts, c 1550–c 1680: Utrecht
  • Utrecht, §2: Art life and organization
  • groups and movements
    • Utrecht Caravaggisti
  • methods
    • Perspective, §III, 3: Non-linear: 16th–17th centuries
  • patrons and collectors
    • Buytewech, Willem, §3: Critical reception and posthumous reputation
    • Helsingør, §2: Kronborg Castle
    • Holstein-Gottorp: (1) Louisa Ulrica, Queen of Sweden
    • Orange Nassau: (3) Frederick Henry, Stadholder and Prince of Orange
  • pupils
    • Bijlert, Jan (Hermansz.) van
      • Bijlert, Jan van
    • Both, Andries
      • Both: (1) Andries Both
    • Brugghen, Hendrick (Jansz.) ter
      • Brugghen, Hendrick ter, §1(i): Background and training in The Hague and Utrecht, before c 1605
      • Brugghen, Hendrick ter, §1(ii): Italy, c 1605–14
      • Brugghen, Hendrick ter, §2: Working methods and technique
    • Cuyp, Jacob (Gerritsz.)
      • Cuyp: (1) Jacob Cuyp
    • Honthorst, Gerrit (Hermansz.) van (1592-1656)
      • Honthorst, Gerrit van, §1(i): Training and visit to Italy, before mid-1620
    • Poelenburch, Cornelis van
      • Poelenburch, Cornelis van, §1(i): Training and early influences, before 1617
    • Weenix, Jan Baptist
      • Weenix: (1) Jan Baptist Weenix
  • reproductive prints by others
    • Bolswert: (1) Boetius Bolswert
    • Bolswert: (2) Schelte Bolswert
    • Bry, de: (2) Johann Theodor de Bry
    • Büsinck, Ludolph
    • Engraving, §II, 3(i)(d): Major exponents and their influences, c 1500–c 1600: Goltzius
    • Gheyn, de: (1) Jacques de Gheyn II
    • Matham, Jacob
    • Muller, Jan
    • Prints, §III, 5: Technical processes: Mixed and experimental
    • Swanenburg, van: (3) Willem van Swanenburg
    • Vanitas, §2: The Netherlands
    • Woodcut, chiaroscuro, §2: History
  • works
    • Bloemaert: (1) Abraham Bloemaert, §1: Life and painted work
    • Bloemaert: (1) Abraham Bloemaert, §2: Drawings
    • Frame, §VI, 3: Germany and Central Europe: Baroque
    • Poelenburch, Cornelis van, §1(iii): Later works: Utrecht, 1627–67
    • Prints, §II, 1(viii): Subject-matter, before c 1700: Landscape
    • Woodcut, chiaroscuro, §1: Materials and techniques