Gaspar de Crayer

Variant namesprimary name: Gaspar de Crayer

DatesBiographical dates: 1584 - 1669 Dead: dead 1669 Born: born 1584

Gender

Nationality

BiographyBiography: Gaspar de Crayer was the son of the scenepainter and art dealer Gaspard de Crayer the Elder and mainly painted history paintings and portraits. In Brussels he was a pupil of Raphaël Coxie and in 1607 he became a master in the city’s Guild of St. Luke. He purchased paintings on behalf of Archduke Albert and Archduchess Isabella and worked as court painter from 1635. In 1644 he settled down in Ghent after having worked there many years earlier on the decorative preparations for the Archduke’s entry to the city in 1635 and at the same time became a master in the city’s guild of artists. De Crayer also served as court painter to Philip IV of Spain. He collaborated with Jacques d’Arthois and Lodewijk de Vadder on landscapes and with Pieter Boel who painted the animals in his works. De Crayer completed paintings for the Archduke Ferdinand, Jacques Boones, Archbishop of Mechelen, Philip IV and Archduke Leopold Wilhelm. In his early portraits there are affinities to Frans Pourbus II and in his later works to Anthony van Dyck. He painted a large number of religious works, altarpieces for various churches in particular, which reveal the distinct influence of Rubens and Van Dyck. Like these artists he developed compositions with a firm diagonal effect, well developed movement and drama and monumental expression. During the latter part of his life, De Crayer, who was very productive, had a large studio with many assistants and pupils. The latter included Anselm van Hulle, Jost van Cleve III, Nicolas de Liemaker and François Duchatel. Hans Vlieghe has divided his oeuvre into five different phases: an introductory period inspired by 16th century painting in Antwerp, a second period up until 1630 under the inspiration of the monumental works of Rubens, a third phase from 1630 to 1637 when he falls under the influence of Van Dyck, a fourth phase beginning in 1630 when his paintings are increasingly characterised by refined techniques and use of colour and finally a period from about 1648 when his figures are rendered with increasing theatricality and grey tones dominate his works. The artist J. Vinckels has executed copies of De Crayer’s works.

External links