A BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY OF
Berlin.
Cassel.
Darmstadt
DrtsJeu.
and learned the art of engraving under Joseph
Wagner. He has engraved several plates of his-
torical and other subjects, chiefly after later Vene-
tian painters:
St. Seraphinus worshipping the Cross, half leugth ; frontispiece. 1767. A Woman sleeping, surprised by a Sportsman ; after Piazetta. Four Pastoral Subjects ; after the same. Isaac blessing Jacob ; after J. B. Pitloni. The Sacrifice of Gideon ; after the same. Jacob and Rachel ; after J. Varotti. Hagar and Ishmael in the Desert ; after J. Varana. Six Views in Venice ; after Canaletto ; engraved by £erardi BDiJVagner. 1742.
BERCH, Van FLATTEN. See Platten-Bebcb. |
BERCHEM. NicoLAAS (or Claas, the shortened form) PlETEESZ is commonly known as Berchem i Hague or Beeghem. By several writers this has been as- » sumed to be a mere nickname, and various reasons " have been given for its origin. But inasmuch as | " he is entered in the town-records as Berchem, and that he adopted it for the signature on his works, it may to all intents and purposes be considered a surname. He was born at Haarlem in 1620. His father, whose name was Pieter Claasz, was known as Pieter Claasz van Haarlem, and it wasfrom him that Nicolaas received his first instruction in art. He afterwards studied under Jan van Goijen, N. Moeijaert, De Grebber, with Jan Wils, whose daughter he married, and with Weeninx. The pic- tures he painted in the early part of his life have some resemblance to the works of Weeninx, al- though touched with more delicacy ; and, like the pictures of that master, they represent seaports and embarcations. He afterwards formed for himself a different and a more interesting manner, repre- senting landscapes of most delightful scenery, enriched with architectural ruins, and decorated with charming groups of figures and cattle. His pictures of those subjects are superior to any painter of his country, except his contemporary Jan Both, and there appears to have been some degree of rivalry between these celebrated artists. It is related that a great encourager of art, a burgomaster of Dordrecht — Van der Hulk by name — engaged Berchem and Both to paint each a picture, for which they were to receive re- muneration, and the one whose work should be thought the better was to have a certain sum, in addition, as premium. The two painters did their best, and on showing their work to their patron he assured them that their admirable performances had denrived him of the capability of preference, and ta&t, as they had both reached the perfection of the art, they were both entitled to the premium, the prize of fame. Berchem's painting is No. 1076 in the Hermitage, St. Petersburg. Descamps considered it his masterpiece. From the sub- jects and the manner of many of his paintings it has been concluded that Berchem made a journey to Italy, though no precise information on the subject is to be obtained. He died at Amsterdam in 1683. The following is a list of his best paint- ings, in the public collections of Europe : they are not uncommonly seen in the private galleries of England :
Amsterdam. 3/aseum. Wioter Landscape (dated 1647 „ „ The three flocks of Sheep. „ „ Cattle crossing a Ford {dated 1656). „ „ The Ferry-boat. ^ „ Landscape and Figures (executed in conjunction with Van der Hagen). 12( Brunswick. Gallery. Brussels. Museum. Gallery. Gallery. Gallery. Museum. Winter landscape (Berche.m f). BIythological scene in a Landscape (Berchem f). „ The Halt at the Inn (Berchem f^. ,, The Halt at the Forge (Beuchem). „ Female Head (a study). Pomona and Vertumuus. Landscape with Euius. Eepose in the Meadow. A Forge (Berchem). Herdsmen and Cattle. Angels appearing to tlie Shepherds (signed Beeighe.m, 1649). A Sunset (Berche,m). Landscapes (eleven). Landscape with Figures. Wood Scene. Landscape (called ' Le Soir '). Landscape (called ' Le Midi '). Landscape (Berriqhem, 1648). The Boar Hunt (Berchem. 1659). „ Italian Ford (Berchem, 1661). „ Attack on a Convoy in the Moun- tains (Berchem). Kat. Gall. Crossmg the Ford (BERCHEM pi.vxt) „ „ Landscape with Ruin (Berchem). „ „ Italian Landscape (Beuchem). „ „ Ploughing (Berchem). „ „ Landscape (Berchem, 165 — ). rinakothek. Landscapes. „ A nd others ; in all, eight works. Louvre. View near Nice (0. Berghem). „ Landscapes with Animals (C. 1>EC- GHEM f. 1653). _, „ The Ford (Berchem f. 1650). ,', „ Eight other Landscapes with Animals. VeteishuiB-Hermitage Angels appearing to the Shepherds (Berchem). „ The Repose iu Egypt (Berchem). " The Rape of Europa (Berchem, 1649). „ Autumu (N. Berchem). Halt of Huntsmen (Berchem. No "' 1076 ; one of his best tcorks). „ Italian Scenes. " „ And others; in all, sixteen works. Vienna. Gallery. Landscapes with Figures and Herds (fee). „ Liechtenstein Gul. De:ith of Dido. ,^ „ Judgment of Paris. Landscape (and others). Dulwich. Gallery. J) i» Museum. London. it » Munich. Paris.
Berchem sometimes signed his name C. Berchem, the C standing for Claas, and also, in early life, Berighem, or Berrighem. He occasionally painted animals in the works of other masters, as Ruis- dael, Hobbema, Jan Wils, and others. The style of Berchem is excellent ; he painted with surpris- ing facility, yet his pictures have all the finish that could be wished. Extremely happy in the choice and arrangement of his compositions, he has given a singular grace and beauty to his figures, ^^•ithout departing from the propriety of costume. The distribution of his masses, and his arrangement of light and shade, are masterly and intelligent ; and the delicate gradation of his aijrial perspective, the li"-ht floating of his skies, and the transparency of the water, have never been surpassed by any painter of his country.
This celebrated artist has also amply contnbiilcd to the portfolios of the collector, by the numerous exquisite drawings and etchings he has left ut of which the latter are executed in a much mor,, finished manner than we are led to expect from the point of a painter. There is a descriptive catalogue of the etchings of Berchem, I by Hendrik de Winter, published at Amsterdam in 1767. The following list comprises his principal plates :
