Johannes Vermeer and his contemporaries

Delft has many more famous people from the 17th century who did remarkable things

Statue of Hugo de Groot on Markt in Delft

 

Johannes Vermeer is one of the most famous Delft painters of the 17th century. But Delft has many more famous Delfters from the 17th century who did extraordinary things.Read on and learn about Vermeer's contemporaries and what they had to do with Delft, and Vermeer!

Hugo de Groot

Hugo Grotius, by Michiel Jansz. van Mierevelt, 1631 Museum Prinsenhof Delft

1583-1645

Hugo de Groot was born in Delft on 10 April 1583. Soon, as a Delft child prodigy, he amazed everyone with his intelligence and knowledge. Both his father and grandfather had been mayors of Delft. His father also had a keen interest in science and art. Thus, even as a small boy, Hugo came into contact with several scholars, including Justus Lipsius and Simon Stevin.

At the age of just 11, he went to study at Leiden University, after which he quickly made a career as a jurist, lawyer and diplomat. Besides the spectacular story of his escape, Hugo de Groot leaves behind much more. His thoughts on peace, freedom and justice were of great importance in the past and more relevant today than ever. On 22 March 1621, Hugo escaped from Slot Loevestein. This escape is the most famous in Dutch history. In his cell, Hugo had himself locked in a heavy book chest. In this way, he escaped unnoticed via the narrow stairs of the Slot.

  

Painting by painter Michiel Jansz van Mierevelt from 1631 with Hugo Grotius in Delft Hugo de Groot's book chest in Museum Prinsenhof Delft Statue of Hugo de Groot on Markt in Delft

Slot Loevestein was a state prison from 1572. Here 'dissenters' were imprisoned; people who did not think along the lines of those in power. During his sentence at Loevestein, Hugo developed his ideas about peace, freedom and justice that would change the world. His thoughts are still relevant today.

TIP! A statue of Hugo de Groot was placed on the Markt in Delft in 1886 to commemorate him.

Antoni van Leeuwenhoek

Anthony van Leeuwenhoek (1632-1723). Physicist in Delft, Jan Verkolje (I), 1680 - 1686 Rijksmuseum Amsterdam

1632-1723  

In 1632, Antoni van Leeuwenhoek was born in Delft. Antoni started calling himself Leeuwenhoek because his parental home was in the Leeuwenpoort. From an early age, he became interested in astronomy, mathematics, physics and chemistry.With no natural science education and no knowledge of foreign languages, van Leeuwenhoek nevertheless founded the invention the microscope. With this microscope, he made many discoveries in biology and microscopy.

Johannes Vermeer and Antoni van Leeuwenhoek also have a history together. After Vermeer's death, van Leeuwenhoek acted as executor of his estate. It is believed that they were good friends and there is even a suspicion that Antoni van Leeuwenhoek was the model for Vermeer's paintings 'The Geographer' and 'The Astronomer'.

After his death on 31 August 1723, at the age of 91, he was buried in Delft's Oude Kerk.

   

Antoni van Leeuwenhoek sitting Lady looking at the first microscope made in Delft Anatomy lesson of doctor Cornelis 's Gravensande in action as city anatomist. Next to the doctor (the man with the pointer) is Antoni van Leuwenhoek on the right. Made by C. de Man, 1681, Collection

Pieter de Hooch

Pieter de Hooch (1629- in or after 1679), Courtyard of a house in Delft, 1658, The National Gallery, London

1629-1684  

The first sources indicating that Pieter de Hooch lived in Delft come from August 1652. De Hooch married Jannetje van der Burch, the daughter of an earthenware manufacturer in Delft, in 1654. Together they had seven children, two of whom were born in Delft.

In 1655, Pieter de Hooch was registered with the Sint-Lucasgilde, a guild of artists and art craftsmen, in Delft. Chances are that Vermeer and De Hooch met here. The painters also influenced each other's painting style. Both often painted women working in the home. Despite this, the two painters can be unmistakably distinguished from each other.

Painting 'Courtyard of a house in Delft' by Pieter de Hooch

Pieter de Hooch (1629- in or after 1679), Courtyard of a house in Delft, 1658, The National Gallery, London

Reinier de Graaf

1641-1673  

After Reinier de Graaf was promoted to doctor of medicine in France on anatomical research on pancreas, he settled in Delft on his return to the Netherlands. Reinier de Graaf's discoveries and findings laid the foundation for our current knowledge of reproductive medicine and endocrinology. Despite all his successes, his Catholic faith stood in the way of a university career in the largely Protestant Netherlands.

Today, we know the Reinier de Graaf Groep, several hospitals in the Dutch region of Haaglanden. This group is named after Reinier de Graaf. Delft is also home to a Reinier de Graaf hospital.

Inside Medical Museum de Griffioen with a view of a skeleton Anatomy lesson of doctor Cornelis 's Gravensande in action as city anatomist. Next to the doctor (the man with the pointer) is Antoni van Leuwenhoek on the right. Made by C. de Man, 1681, Collection

Fun for you too!

This website uses cookies

This website uses cookies (Functional, Analytical, Marketing) which are necessary for the website to function as well as possible. By clicking accept, you indicate your agreement with this.