Cornelis van der Voort
Cornelis van der Voort (Antwerp circa 1576 – Amsterdam 1624) was a Dutch portraitpainter from the early 17th century before Rembrandt appeared on stage.
Although very little is known about Van der Voort’s early life, he probably came from a family of painters as there was a Cornelis van der Voort in the guild of Utrecht in 1569 and another in the guild of Delft in 1648. It is thought he studied with Cornelis Ketel. As a young man he was praised by Karel van Mander. In 1606 his brother Hans, a tailor, bought three parcels on which two houses were built. Hans moved in in the one on the corner, and Cornelis in the one next to it. Only a few years later he sold the house. (In 1639 Rembrandt and his wife Saskia van Uylenburgh moved in; today it is the Rembrandt House Museum). Around 1613 he was a member of the schutterij and painted himself on a schutterstuk. At some time he inherited the house on the corner of the Sint Antoniesbreestraat from his brother.
Van der Voort probably had six children and married twice. In 1625 his inventory was sold. In 1626 his art business was taken over by Hendrick van Uylenburgh.
Van der Voort painted full length portraits in contemporary interiors: e.g. of Jan Cornelisz. Geelvinck as one of the regenten of a hospital, of Joan Huydecoper and his late wife and of Nicolaes Tulp. His work was in great demand and held in high esteem. Van der Voort was the head of the Guild of St. Luke and had a strong influence on the early portraits of Rembrandt, as well as the work of Nicolaes Eliasz. Pickenoy and Thomas de Keyser. His own students included David Bailly, who copied his collection of paintings, Pieter Luyx, Dirk Harmensz. and probably Pieter Codde.
Sources
- Peter C. Sutton, “Frans Hals”, exhibition catalogue Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Prized Possessions, European Paintings from Private Collections of Friends of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston July 17 – August 16, 1992, p. 167.
- Judikje Kiers and Fieke Tissink, “Companion Pieces” exhibition catalogue Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, The Glory of the Golden Age, April 15 – September 17, 2000, p. 31.
- Gary Schwartz (1987) Rembrandt. Zijn leven, zijn schilderijen, p. 26, 30, 138, 139, 141, 174, 210, 213.