Nicolaes Maes

The Dordrecht genre painter Nicolaes Maes was a dedicated artist. While some of his colleagues led rather dissolute lives, Nicolaes Maes worked in a more restrained manner. This approach served him well, and he became one of the most famous painters of his time. Naturally, in the spirit of the era, we at the fun part of art look at artistry, so he rightfully holds a place in our virtual museum.

The Life of Nicolaes Maes

Nicolaes Maes was born in 1632 or 1634 in Dordrecht (his exact birth year is not known). For someone with a talent for painting, Dordrecht was certainly a good city to grow up in during those days. Several painters were active there, and young Nicolaes probably learned the basics from one of them. To further his skills, Nicolaes Maes apprenticed with a painter in Amsterdam around 1648, and that painter happened to be none other than Rembrandt van Rijn.

In Amsterdam, Nicolaes Maes experienced Rembrandt at the height of his fame. He undoubtedly benefited from Rembrandt's valuable connections. With no shortage of commissions, as an apprentice of the grandmaster, Nicolaes Maes could engage in a lot of preparatory work. This allowed him to master the craft and gain insight into the business side of art. As Nicolaes Maes discovered, true success required a great deal of hard work.

In 1653, at the age of around 20, Nicolaes Maes returned to his hometown of Dordrecht. There, he married Adriana Brouwer, who had a son from a previous marriage. Nicolaes Maes could make a living from his art, and in 1658, he purchased his own house in Dordrecht. In 1673, he moved back to Amsterdam, although he kept his house in Dordrecht. Nicolaes Maes passed away in 1693 and was buried in Amsterdam.

Works of Nicolaes Maes

Nicolaes Maes was trained by Rembrandt, and the influence of this master is readily apparent, especially in his earlier works. During his young years in Dordrecht (between the ages of 20 and 25), he was highly productive and created some of his finest works. These are genre pieces in warm colors that impress with their high degree of realism – what we see is very recognizable, even to modern eyes.

In the second half of the 17th century, Nicolaes Maes was one of the most famous painters of his time, and his fame extended beyond the borders of the Netherlands – he was particularly beloved in England. However, he is no longer widely recognized today, unlike his teacher Rembrandt.

Nicolaes Maes & the fun part of art
Contemporaries of Nicolaes Maes appreciated his work. His remarkable use of color, technical mastery, and sense of style made his paintings popular among a broad audience. Nicolaes Maes' perspective offers us a beautiful insight into the society of the 17th century. Bas Zevenbergen allows you to look over the painter's shoulder. In our virtual museum, you can discover the fun part of art.