TheNetherlan

ds:

The “Low

Country”

Dutch Architecture

Patrician homes along the canal in Leiden

Upper-class Homes, Amsterdam 1600s

Row houses & Catholic “hidden” Church, Amsterdam

Why was the Netherlands the best place to live in

Europe in the 17th c.?

17th c: The “Dutch” CenturyA fiercely republican form of gov’t

Religious toleration Protestants, Catholics & Jews lived together peacefully

Urban society more people lived in cities than any other area of Europe.

1st capitalist economy (thriving & stable)

Amsterdam Europe’s financial capital

“Golden Age” of artists and thinkers.

Dutch universities were centers of intellectual life, progressive ideas & scientific achievement.

Dutch SocietyGranaries with enough surplus for one year (Amsterdam & Rotterdam)

Generally higher salaries than in any other parts of W. Europe.

Even women had higher wages.

“Protestant work ethic.”

Thrift and frugality.

Had the highest standard of living in Europe!

Had a commercial empire that spanned the globe!

The Dutch Republic (Federation)

Loose confederation of seven independent & strong states

The Dutch Republic: A Flow Chart

REGENTS• provincial level• held virtually all the power• strong advocates of local independence

STADTHOLDER• States General representative from each province• responsible for defense and order

STATES GENERAL

• federal assembly• foreign affairs (war)• all issues had to be referred to the local Estates

Oude Kerk [Old Church], Amsterdam

First built in 1300.

Interior of a Portuguese Synagogue in Amsterdam –

Emmanuel De Witte

Portrait of an Old Jewish Man Rembrandt, 1654

Amsterdam Stock Market (Bourse)

Emmanuel De Witte, 1653

Jewish refugees helped found it in 1602.

Sampling Officials of the Drapers Guild – Rembrandt

- 1662

University of Leiden,

1575

R By 1645, it was the largest university in the Protestant world.

R The separation of the strong provinces hindered the power of any church to control intellectual life in the Dutch Republic!

University of Gröningen, 1614

R Along with Leiden, they were the first international universities.

R Half of the students were foreigners.

Anatomy Lecture of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp – Rembrandt,

1632

Dutch Contributions to Science

Hans Lippershey Telescope

Christiaan Huygens Explanation of Saturn’s

rings

Wave theory of Light

Anton von Leeuwenhoek Microscope

Discovery of micro-organisms

Women at Work

Dutch East India Fleet

Dutch East India Ship mid-17th c.

Return of the Dutch East India Fleet, c. 1559

Dutch in Japan, 18th c

17th c. Dutch Global Commerce

Decline of the Dutch Republic (18th c.)

Unified political leadership vanished after death of William III (1702)

Wars w/ France & England placed heavy burdens on Dutch finances & manpower

English shipping began to challenge Dutch commercial supremacy

Fishing industry declined

Stagnation of domestic industries brought about by disunity of provinces

Only thing saving them from insignificance = financial system

Characteristics of Dutch Realism: Chiaroscuro contrast b/t light & dark Usually one light source (ex. a window)

Imitated Caravaggio’s use of light & shadow

Realism detail in fabrics, facial expressions, etc

Intimate Settings indoor scenes w/in middle-class homes

Allegories symbols/themes w/in paintings

Dutch Realism Goals: Provide Protestant middle-class w/

small-scale, affordable, portable artwork

Display everyday life as realistically as possible

Praise the lives & accomplishments of the middle class

“Genre” Paintings Still life

Portraits

Landscapes/Cityscapes

Still Life with Gilt GobletWilliam Heda, 1635

“Genre” Painting

The Merry Drinker (1628-30)– Frans Hals

View of DoerdrechtAelbert Cuyp, 1650s

Rembrandt van Rijn (1606-1669)

Self-portrait, c. 1629-30 Self-Portrait, c. 1660

The Night Watch – Rembrandt van Rijn, 1642

Anatomy Lecture of Dr. Nicolaes Tulp – Rembrandt,

1632

The Mill– Rembrandt van Rijn, 1645-48

A Young Woman with a Water Jug - Jan Vermeer,

1662

The AstronomerJan Vermeer, 1668

Girl with a Pearl EarringJan Vermeer, 1665

The Little Street – Jan Vermeer, 1657-1661

Jan Vermeer and Optics

R Did Vermeer use some of the new discoveries in optics?

R Did he use lenses to project the image of the subject [camera obscura] onto the canvas?

R It is argued that van Leeuwenhoek was the model for his painting, “The Astronomer.”

Camera Obscura