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Cornelis SpringerDutch landscape painter
Country:
 Netherlands |
Biography of Cornelis Springer
Early Life and Education
Cornelis Springer was a Dutch landscape painter of the 19th century, renowned for his landscapes. He was born in Amsterdam in 1817, the fourth child in his family. During his youth, he apprenticed under his father, a carpenter and builder named Willem Springer. It became clear that Cornelis had a talent for drawing and painting, and he went on to study under various teachers, including Andries de Wit, Hendrik Gerrit ten Cate, Kasparus Karsen, and Jacobus van der Stok. He also received instruction in architectural drawing and perspective from his older brother, architect Hendrik Springer.
Artistic Career
Springer spent the majority of his life in Amsterdam but extensively traveled throughout the Netherlands, studying the unique features of cities and villages in different provinces. He also lived in Germany for a significant period. Springer became a member of the "Felix Meritis" artist community in Amsterdam and was awarded a gold medal for his interior church painting in 1847.
Springer is best known for his watercolors, etchings, and drawings, with a particular focus on urban landscapes and scenes of city life that he captured during his travels. His drawings often depict reality in meticulous detail but with a distinctive romantic style. In 1865, Springer received the Order of Leopold from Belgium, and in 1878, the Dutch government asked him and Dutch genre painter Jozef Israëls to serve as consultants for the construction of the new State Museum, later known as the Rijksmuseum.
Legacy and Later Life
Springer's works can be found in various Dutch museums, including the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam Museum, Dordrechts Museum, and Teylers Museum, among others. On October 17, 2006, one of Springer's finest works, "Gezicht op de Westerstraat, Enkhuizen" ("View of Westerstraat, Enkhuizen"), was auctioned at Sotheby's in Amsterdam for 1.1 million euros, becoming his most expensive painting.
Cornelis Springer passed away in Hilversum in 1891. His son, Leonard Springer, became a highly acclaimed landscape designer.
