circa 1621/1622 -1683 · Haarlem, Amsterdam and Italianate landscape

Southern light, moving shepherds and peaceful herds make Nicolaes Berchem a master of the Italianate Dutch landscape.

Nicolaes Pietersz. Berchem was born in Haarlem around 1621 or 1622 and died in Amsterdam in 1683. Son of the still life painter Pieter Claesz, he received his first lessons from him but quickly chose the landscape, the figure and the animal. The Rijksmuseum recalls that no trip to Italy has been documented and that Berchem probably never crossed the Alps. However, he became one of the great representatives of the second generation of Dutch Italianists, thanks to the study of artists like Jan Both, Pieter van Laer and Jan Asselijn. However, he became one of the great representatives of the second generation of Dutch Italianists, thanks to the study of artists like Jan Both, Pieter van Laer and Jan Asselijn. However, he became one of the great representatives of the second generation of Dutch Italianists, thanks to the study of artists like Jan Both, Pieter van Laer and Jan Asselijn. However, he became one of the great representatives of the second generation of Dutch Italianists, thanks to the study of artists like Jan Both, Pieter van Laer and Jan Asselijn. However, he became one of the great representatives of the second generation of Dutch Italianists, thanks to the study of artists like Jan Both, Pieter van Laer and Jan Asselijn. However, he became one of language: men, animals and boats cross the water while the landscape organizes depth. In the Shepherdess milking a goat, the daily gesture becomes the calm center of pastoral care. The Italian Landscape with Horsemen, on the contrary, amplifies space and movement. Berchem draws a lot, carefully prepares the poses of his figures and engraves around sixty prints, mainly animal prints, which widely disseminate his inventions. He worked in Haarlem, visited Bentheim with Jacob van Ruisdael around 1650 and finished his career in Amsterdam. He worked in Haarlem, visited Bentheim with Jacob van Ruisdael around 1650 and completed around sixty prints, mainly animal prints, which widely disseminated his inventions. He worked in Haarlem, visited Bentheim with Jacob van Ruisdael around 1650 and finished his career in Amsterdam. He worked in Haarlem, visited Bentheim with Jacob van Ruisdael around 1650 and finished his career in Amsterdam. He worked in Haarlem, visited Bentheim with Jacob van Ruisdael around 1650 and finished his career in Amsterdam. He worked in Haarlem, visited Bentheim with Jacob van Ruisdael around 1650 and finished his career in Amsterdam. He worked in Haarlem, visited Bentheim with Jacob van Ruisdael around 1650 and finished his movement.

Berchem invents an Italy of light from Holland: a ford, a herd and a few ruins are enough to make an entire pastoral world breathe.