Description
Cornelis Bloemaert was from a Dutch family of artists (he is sometimes referred to as Cornelis the Younger, as his grandfather was also named Cornelis). Originally trained as a painter by his father Abraham Bloemaert, he studied engraving with Crispijn de Passe and thereafter worked primarily as a printmaker. In 1630, he traveled to Paris and then to Rome, where he was commissioned by wealthy patrons to make prints after paintings and sculptures by Italian masters in their collections. He also made some portraits and religious scenes after his own designs. Bloemaert introduced a nuanced approach to depicting the gradations of light and shadow, which influenced later engravers (Williamson).
Condition: Generally very good, with the usual overall light toning, wear, soft creases. Few marginal tears professionally restored.
References:
“1646: Giovanni Battista Ferrari.” Vanderbilt Medical Center. 16 October 1997. http://www.mc.vanderbilt.edu/biolib/hc/journeys/book7.html (20 February 2003).
Bénézit, E. Dictionnaire critique et documentaire des Peintres, Sculpteurs, Dessinateurs et Graveurs. France: Librairie Gründ, 1966. Vol. 2, p. 45.
Erickson, Robert F. “Giovanni Battista Ferrari.” Missouri Botanical Garden. 1995-2010. http://www.illustratedgarden.org/mobot/rarebooks/author.asp?creator=Ferrari,+Giovanni+Battista&creatorID=36 (25 March 2015).
Giannotti, Roberta and Giorgi, Anna Maria. “I Bapt. Ferrarii senensis and Societate Iesu de florum culture books 4.” www.librit.unibo.it/servlet/UniboOggetti/page/oggetti/ lista/lista.html?tema=coltivazione%20dei%20fiori (20 February 2003).
“Hesperides sive de Malorum Aureorum.” Rare Books from the Missouri Botanical Garden. 16 May 2002. http://www.mobot.org/ (20 February 2003).
Williamson, George C., ed. Bryan’s Dictionary of Painters and Engravers. London: G. Bell and Sons: 1930. Vol. 1, pp. 146-47.