Dutch History

Many people have asked me about The Golden Age in 17th Century Netherlands. How did it happen? What is the history? In order to truly understand why artists and other craftsmen flourished during this period, it is important to view the previous one hundred years.

The prosperous Northern provinces of 17th Century Netherlands became Protestant while the south remained Catholic after the Reformation of the 16th Century. The three southern provinces were under Spanish control and remained Catholic until the Dutch Reformation later. In 1618 Calvinism became the official religion, but people who were escaping religious persecution came to the Netherlands where they were free to worship privately.

Because Protestants objected to the idolatry of saints and biblical scenes, church walls were covered over and remained devoid of such portrayals. Although Dutch artists continued to paint religious themes for private clients, it opened the oeuvre to endless possibilities.

The Netherlands enjoyed a prosperous society and during the 17th Century became the center of world trade. Book publishing, ship building, fishing, banking, textiles, weaving, diamond cutting were but a few of the growing number of trades which flourished. The Dutch merchants traded their goods for spices, paper, silk, wine, olive oil and countless other items that enriched their growing economy.

Art and artists flourished also, because the merchant class and aristocracy had money to commission and purchase paintings. Amsterdam began to manufacture vermilion and lead white pigments for artists use. Other pigments were traded with countries such as Italy, Spain, and Cyprus.

According to Peter Rose in Matters of Taste, 6,000,000…yes!!! 6 million paintings were created by Dutch artists, of great or not so great fame, during the 17th Century; thus, The Golden Age of Dutch Art. Once religious constraints were released, artists were free to create and paint according to their personal wisdom.