Cornelis Ploos van Amstel

Artist

Cornelis Ploos van Amstel

format

Cornelius Proes van Amstel (1726-1798) was an 18th century Dutch art collector, painter and printmaker. He was a member of the Amsterdam artists' association Alte et Amicitia (Art and Friendship) and was known for his outstanding etching skills. His works, which faithfully reproduced paintings by the masters of the Dutch Golden Age, were highly valued by art lovers and collectors.

Cornelius Proes van Amstel Biography

• Born in Amsterdam on January 20, 1726 .
• He grew up as the son of a wealthy merchant and became interested in painting from an early age.
• Besides being an amateur painter, he is also active as an art collector.
• In 1765, he helped found the Amsterdam artists' association, Arte et Amicitia.
• In the 1760s, he mastered etching techniques and began to produce prints in earnest.
• Etchings of paintings by great masters of the Dutch Golden Age , such as Rembrandt and Frans Hals .
• He died in Amsterdam on March 20, 1798 (aged 72).

Representative works

• Rembrandt's "The Night Watch" etching
• Etching of the Laughing Knight by Frans Hals
• Jan Steen's etching of "Woman Eating an Oyster"

Van Amstel's style and achievements

Van Amstel's works are characterised by meticulous depictions using etching techniques and his faithful reproduction of the atmosphere of the originals. He skillfully reproduces the brushstrokes, colours and light effects of paintings by masters of the Dutch Golden Age , giving the illusion of looking at the original.

Van Amstel combined the discerning eye of an art collector with the technical prowess of a printmaker to produce numerous masterpieces. His works contributed to the popularization of Dutch Golden Age painting and are still highly valued by art lovers and collectors today.