Hendrick Avercamp

The life of Hendrick Avercamp

Hendrick Avercamp is the best known painter and drawer of Dutch winter landscapes from the 17th century. His paintings full of ice talk give us an idea of the winters in the 17th century.

Avercamp was born in Amsterdam as the son of an apothecary, but grew up in Kampen, to which he moved at the age of one. In 17th century sources, he is called 'the Mute', which meant that he could not speak and was probably deaf.

It is believed that a local master taught him the first principles of painting when he was 12 years old. This local master died during a plague. Hendrick Avercamp later moved to Amsterdam to learn the art of painting. In 1607, Hendrick Avercamp was apprenticed to Pieter Isaacsz. Before that time, he was probably already an apprentice of Gillis van Coninxloo, the Flemish landscape painter. In 1613, he returned to Kampen, where he lived until his death. Hendrick Avercamp died aged 49 in 1634.

The work of Hendrick 

Hendrick Avercamp is particularly famous for his winter landscapes. It is likely that his predilection for this theme comes from his youth, during which he often skated with his parents. Avercamp was born in the last quarter of the 16th century, one of the coldest periods of the Ice Age. His landscapes are narrative and contain many mischievous anecdotal details. Later, mood also became increasingly prominent in his paintings.

A masterpiece by Avercamp

Would you like an impressive masterpiece by Hendrick Avercamp on your wall? View his paintings and choose your favourite in the size you want.