Order a reproduction of Portrait of Margaretha de Geer (1585-1672), Jacob Gerritsz Cuyp, 1651

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Born in Liège in 1583, Margaretha de Geer moved with her family to Aachen in 1595, and then to Dordrecht. In 1603, she married the Dordrecht merchant Jacob Trip (1575-1661), whose brother Elias was in business with her brother Louis. Together, the Trip and De Geer families made fortunes in, among other things, iron mining and the arms trade. Jacob Gerritsz Cuyp and Jacob Trip both served as elders in the Walloon Church in Dordrecht, and the artist painted pendant portraits of Trip and his wife for the first time in 1649.6 Like the 1649 Portrait of Margaretha de Geer, the Rijksmuseum painting from two years later shows the sitter at bust-length and without hands. This compositional type was the one most often employed by Cuyp.7 Margaretha’s dress, including the by then already old-fashioned millstone ruff, and the lighting are virtually identical in both paintings. However, the pose in the Rijksmuseum portrait differs somewhat from the one of 1649, as Margaretha’s face is shown more in profile. Cuyp may have made this slight alteration in Margaretha’s pose in order to create a greater sense of unity between this portrait and its pendant. The latter painting is undoubtedly the Portrait of Jacob Trip, now in a private collection in the United States (fig. a), which is also dated 1651 and was together with the Rijksmuseum Portrait of Margaretha de Geer until they were sold at auction in 1877. Significantly, the Portrait of Jacob Trip in a private collection differs from the 1649 Portrait of Jacob Trip in much the same way, that is the sitter in this portrait is oriented more towards his partner. In the 1651 Portrait of Jacob Trip, Cuyp achieved this effect by including the sitter’s hands. Another Portrait of Margaretha de Geer8 is also dated 1651, and was considered an autograph work by, among others, Hofstede de Groot, who once owned it, and Chong.9 Judging from photographs, this portrait appears to replicate the Rijksmuseum picture rather than vice versa. In addition to the six portraits by Jacob and Aelbert Cuyp of Margaretha de Geer and Jacob Trip, all executed within a very short space of time, there are at least eight portraits and replicas of these sitters dating between 1655 and 1669 by Nicolaes Maes,10 as well as a pendant pair and a portrait of Margaretha de Geer alone by Rembrandt.11 Hofstede de Groot surmised that the Dordrecht couple had so many portraits made of themselves as gifts for their children.12 The present painting, however, was probably not given to one of their children, but to Margaretha’s brother Louis de Geer as a 19th-century owner of the portrait, Egbert Lintelo de Geer (1822-87), was a descendant of Louis. Jonathan Bikker, 2007 See Bibliography and Rijksmuseum painting catalogues See Key to abbreviations and Acknowledgements This entry was published in J. Bikker (ed.), Dutch Paintings of the Seventeenth Century in the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam, I: Artists Born between 1570 and 1600, coll. cat. Amsterdam 2007, no. 54.

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Artist Biography

Jacob Gerritszoon Cuyp: Master of Dutch Maritime Landscapes and Portraiture

Jacob Gerritszoon Cuyp (1594 – 1652) stands as a pivotal figure in the Dutch Golden Age, celebrated primarily for his breathtaking marine paintings and remarkably realistic portraits. Born in Dordrecht, Netherlands, he descended from a family steeped in artistic tradition—his father, Gerrit Gerritsz Cuyp, was a renowned stained glass designer who relocated to Dordrecht from Venlo—establishing him within a milieu deeply attuned to visual artistry. This upbringing undoubtedly fostered an appreciation for meticulous observation and skillful execution, qualities that would define his entire oeuvre. Cuyp’s artistic journey began in Haarlem, where he honed his skills under the tutelage of Frans Hals, arguably the most celebrated portraitist of his era. Hals' influence is palpable in Cuyp’s early portraits, particularly those capturing the dignity and solemnity of ecclesiastical figures—a hallmark of his style. However, Cuyp swiftly transcended stylistic constraints, gravitating towards a genre that captivated audiences: maritime landscapes. Unlike many contemporaries who favored idealized depictions of nature, Cuyp embraced the raw power and unpredictable beauty of the sea, meticulously rendering turbulent waves, misty horizons, and the subtle interplay of light on water surfaces. His fascination with marine scenes wasn’t merely aesthetic; it reflected a broader intellectual preoccupation with scientific observation. Cuyp possessed an inquisitive mind and actively pursued anatomical studies alongside his artistic pursuits—a practice uncommon for painters during this period. This dedication to accuracy extended beyond mere visual representation, informing his understanding of color theory and contributing to the development of innovative techniques. He experimented extensively with glazing methods, layering translucent washes of pigment over underlying colors to achieve luminous effects that captured the essence of atmospheric conditions. Cuyp’s artistic output spanned a prolific career, producing hundreds of paintings across diverse subjects—portraits, landscapes, genre scenes depicting everyday life, and biblical narratives. Among his most iconic works are “Portrait of Margaretha de Geer,” commissioned by the influential botanist and patroness of science, showcasing Cuyp's mastery of portraiture and capturing De Geer’s gaze with remarkable sensitivity. Similarly, "Margaretha de Geer" exemplifies Cuyp’s ability to convey psychological depth through nuanced facial expressions and subtle gestures. Furthermore, “Portrait of a Girl with a Doll and Basket” offers a glimpse into domestic life during the seventeenth century, demonstrating Cuyp's versatility as an artist and his commitment to portraying human subjects in compelling detail. Despite facing personal hardships—including financial difficulties and illness—Cuyp persevered in his artistic endeavors until his untimely death in 1652. His legacy endured beyond his lifetime, influencing subsequent generations of painters who admired his unwavering dedication to realism and his pioneering use of glazing techniques. Today, Cuyp’s paintings continue to inspire awe and admiration for their breathtaking beauty and profound insight into the human condition—solidifying his position as one of the foremost artists of the Dutch Golden Age and a cornerstone of Western art history.

jacob gerritszoon cuyp

1594 - 1652 , Netherlands

Quick Facts

Artistic Movement Or Style: Dutch Golden Age
Date Of Birth: 1594
Full Name: Jacob Gerritszoon Cuyp
Nationality: Dutch
Notable Artworks:
- Portrait of Margaretha de Geer
- Margaretha de Geer
- Portrait of a girl with a doll and a basket
Place Of Birth: Dordrecht, Netherlands

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