ANTHONISZ, Aert - b. ~1579 Antwerpen, d. 1620 Amsterdam

Aert Anthonisz. Anthonissen, Dutch marine painter. Until 1973 he was known as Aart van Antum, after an erroneous interpretation of his early signatures. He was born in Antwerp, but moved to Amsterdam at an early age, presumably around 1590. He was possibly a pupil of Hendrick Cornelisz Vroom. In 1603 he signed a paper in Amsterdam that he was 23 years old and had lived there for 12 years, when he married Baycken Coutermans from Mechelen. She in turn was given power of attorney by him to settle an inheritance in Mechelen in 1614.

Stylistically his seascapes betray a Flemish influence. He was the father of the marine painter Hendrick van Anthonissen.

Sea Battle between Dutch and Spanish Boats

Followers of Hendrick Vroom painted historical and quasi-historical maritime events in his style. Aert Anthonisz (also called Aert van Antum) was one of them.

By the seventeenth century, the Dutch Republic had become one of the world’s leading maritime powers. Like England, it too defeated the Spanish Armada, in 1588, a subject of endless popularity for Dutch patrons, shown by Aert Anthonisz. in his circular depiction of 1604.

Suggested listening (streaming mp3, 12 minutes):

Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber: The Battle, suite