Gerard Soest

The Shakespeare portrait by Soest

Gerard Soest (* approx. 1600; † February 11, 1681 ), also known as G. Soest , Gerald Soest , Geraerd Soest , was an English painter of the 17th century. Soest is known for his portraits of William Shakespeare and Samuel Butler (poets) .

Artistic creation

Numerous images of the British nobility go back to Soest. A total of 130 works were cataloged in the 1970s. However, Soest never received orders from the royal court. Soest's portrait of Shakespeare was made 30 years after his death. It has been suggested that the person portrayed resembled Shakespeare, while the pose and clothing show the influence of the artistic model of the Chandos portrait .

Biographical uncertainties

There are uncertainties about his name, because the direct evidence on his pictures is only the signature "Soest pinxit" (painted by Soest). Its place of origin is just as uncertain: Soest is given as both a painter of Dutch and Westphalian origin, with more written evidence suggesting an origin from the Westphalian Soest or its immediate surroundings, while the artistic work is close to the Dutch tradition that was relevant during the period - and thus to Soest in the Netherlands could refer. It is also possible that G. Soest's name refers to the famous English portrait painter Sir Peter Lely , who was born in Soest (Westphalia) as the son of a Dutch father.

Remarks

^ Alfred E. Laurence: G. Soest pinxit , in: Soester Zeitschrift Heft 86, 1974, pp. 76–90, here: 76.
^ National Portrait Gallery
↑ George Vertue's conjecture, see National Portrait Gallery, Searching for Shakespeare , 2006.
↑ According to the chronicler De Piles in 1570, but with an incorrect date of death, see Alfred E. Laurence: G. Soest pinxit , in: Soester Zeitschrift , Issue 86, 1974, p. 78.
↑ So in Vertue at the beginning of the 18th century, naming the correct date of death and u. a. Weyermann 1729, but this with mentioning of an otherwise undetectable first name "Joachim", see Alfred E. Laurence: G. Soest pinxit , in: Soester Zeitschrift Heft 86, 1974, p. 78 f.
^ Alfred E. Laurence: G. Soest pinxit , in: Soester Zeitschrift Heft 86, 1974, pp. 76–90, here: 78–79.

literature

Soest, Gerard . In: Hans Vollmer (Hrsg.): General lexicon of fine artists from antiquity to the present . Founded by Ulrich Thieme and Felix Becker . tape 31 : Siemering – Stephens . EA Seemann, Leipzig 1937, p. 210-211 .
Alfred E. Laurence: G. Soest pinxit. Prolegomena about an English painter from Westphalia. In: Soester Zeitschrift No. 86, 1974, pp. 76-90.

Web links

Commons : Gerard Soest - collection of images, videos and audio files

Artcyclopedia with links to images and other resources

personal data
SURNAME	Soest, Gerard
ALTERNATIVE NAMES	Soest, G .; Soest, Gerald (full name); Soest, Geraerd (full name); Soest, Gilbert (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	English painter
DATE OF BIRTH	around 1600
DATE OF DEATH	February 11, 1681

[1] Alfred E. Laurence: G. Soest pinxit , in: Soester Zeitschrift Heft 86, 1974, pp. 76–90, here: 76.

[2] National Portrait Gallery

[3] George Vertue's conjecture, see National Portrait Gallery, Searching for Shakespeare , 2006.

[4] According to the chronicler De Piles in 1570, but with an incorrect date of death, see Alfred E. Laurence: G. Soest pinxit , in: Soester Zeitschrift , Issue 86, 1974, p. 78.

[5] So in Vertue at the beginning of the 18th century, naming the correct date of death and u. a. Weyermann 1729, but this with mentioning of an otherwise undetectable first name "Joachim", see Alfred E. Laurence: G. Soest pinxit , in: Soester Zeitschrift Heft 86, 1974, p. 78 f.

[6] Alfred E. Laurence: G. Soest pinxit , in: Soester Zeitschrift Heft 86, 1974, pp. 76–90, here: 78–79.