h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Because of my search for my ancestors in a distant past (until 1600), I discovered that most of them lived for ages is Haarlem, which is close to Amsterdam. (Harlem in New York is named after Haarlem).

In 17th century Haarlem, there was a group of still-life painters (members of the st.Lucas Gilde) and most of them were born and lived and died in Haarlem.
Not all of them, because there were also many "Belgian" inhabitants these days who were invited by the authorities of Haarlem to come and live in their town = state, in those days. (Frans Hals was born in Belgium)

So I had a very personal reason "to get in contact" with the works of these 17th century painters and their personal lives.

But one of them made me go for anóther search and that painter is

Hans Gillisz. Bollongier 1600 - 1675

He was specialized in still-lifes with flowers .(not roses)

Haarlem had become a tulip-town in the 17th century for a while ( a real hype! ), so one might expect some tulips at these still-life paintings of those days and yes, they are present.
The tulips (who have their origin in Turkey !) seem to have been "served flambé", because one can see white tulips with beautifull dark-red flames at it. It makes it all very vivid and powerful.

I got fascinated by the question if these antique tulip bulbs are still for sale.
And yes, they are.
The man at the phone told me, that the tulips at these famous paintings were infected by a virus, and that thát's the reason why they had these "flames of fire" at the flowers.
"Although without the virus, you can still buy from us these antique tulip- bulbs*, with the same appearences." he continued.
"But you'll have to wait until september".

Well, I can wait an other year, for tulips that will shine in all their antique glory in the spring of 2005 in my own garden are worth waiting for.
A still life painting that will spring from the soil after four hundred years, and which my own ancestors have enjoyed in theír lives and may even have sold to others.

History that comes close to me, by the power of living flowers.

Yes, I am thrilled.
I am glad a found that treasure.
I long to see, plant and touch them.

Nature that reaches it's hands from generation to generation !
That is worth looking for.

Alfredo.


*P.S. These tulips descend from the Darwin Tulips.



Other famous still life painters from haarlem 17th century;


Willem Claesz Heda 1593 - 1682.

Dutch still-life painter, active in Haarlem. He and Pieter Claesz. are the most important representatives of "ontbijt" (breakfast piece) painting in the Netherlands. His overall grey-green or brownish tonalities are very similar to those of Claesz., but Heda's work was usually more highly finished and his taste was more aristocratic.
He showed a preference for ham, mince-meat pie, and oysters, and after 1629 never included a herring in his pictures.
His son Gerrit (d. 1702) was his most important pupil.



Pieter Claesz 1597 - 1660

Dutch still-life painter, born in Germany and active in Haarlem where he settled in 1617. He and Willem Claeasz.Heda, who also worked in Haarlem, were the most important exponents of the "ontbijt" or breakfast piece.
They painted with subdued, virtually monochromatic palettes, the subtle handling of light and texture being the prime means of expression. Claesz. generally chose objects of a more homely kind than Heda, although his later work became more colourful and decorative.
The two men founded a distinguished tradition of still-life painting in Haarlem, but Claesz.'s son, Nicholas Berchem became famous as a landscape painter.


Pieter Saenredam. 1597 - 1665

Dutch painter of architectural subjects, particularly church interiors, active in Haarlem. Saenredam, the son of an engraver, was a hunchback and a recluse, but he was acquainted with the great architect Jacob van Campen, who may have played a part in determining his choice of subject.
He was the first painter to concentrate on accurate depictions of real buildings rather than the fanciful inventions of the Mannerist tradition. His pictures were based on painstaking drawings and are scrupulously accurate and highly finished, but they never seem pedantic or niggling and are remarkable for their delicacy of colour and airy grace.
The Cathedral of St Bavo (where he is buried) in Haarlem was favourite subject, but he also travelled to other Dutch towns to make drawings, and Utrecht is represented in several of his paintings.
He also made a few views of Rome based on drawings in a sketchbook by Marten van Heemskerck that he owned. His work had great influence on Dutch painting.




And some more famous painters were;


Nicolaes Gillis. worked in Haarlem 1610 - 1630
.
Floris Claesz van Dijck 1575 - 1651

Floris Gerritsz. van Schooten. 1590 - 1655.

Job Berckheyde 1630 - 1693

Gerrit Adriaensz. Berckheyde 1638 - 1698

Nicholeas Berchem. 1620 - 1683.

Floris van Dijck. 1575 - 1651.

There was also a female still life painter, but I cannot find her name.


Frans Hals - 1581(5) - 1666
Not a still life painter .
He lived and worked (mainly) in Haarlem and painted mány ,many portraits of the peoples of his town.
http://www.franshalsmuseum.nl/

Yes, I found the name of one of the few female still life painters in Haarlem those days.
She was also a member of the st. Lucas Gilde and started as a pupil of Frans Hals.

Her name;

Judith Leyster 1609 - 1660.

She also made a selfportret.

Most of the painters I mentioned never painted still lifes with flowers, so I'll give you here some names of those who just did thát in 17th century Holland. They didn't live/work in Haarlem, however.


Adriaen Coorte painted from 1683 - 1707. city of Middelburg.


Jan van Huysum lived from 1682 - 1749. city of Amsterdam.


Rachel Ruysch (female) 1644 - 1750. city of Amsterdam.


Daniel Seghers 1590 - 1661. city of Antwerpen.

English version of the Frans Hals museum website in Haarlem;


http://www.franshalsmuseum.nl/index_en.html

Pieter Claesz
Still Lifes
27 november 2004 t/m 03 april 2005

From 27 November 2004 - 3 April 2005 the Frans Hals Museum will be exhibiting the best still lifes by Pieter Claesz (1596/1597 - 1660). Pieter Claesz portrays everyday objects, a rummer, a tin plate and a herring in such a way that they exude a spellbinding beauty.

The artist Pieter Claesz, who was from Haarlem, was one of the most important still life painters in Holland. His work stands out because of his realistic presentation of objects - almost as if they could actually be touched. The food on display positively whets the appetite. A skull, a welcoming flower, a watch, a fallen glass and a guttering candle point to the ephemeral and fragile nature of life.

After the exhibition in the Frans Hals Museum these major works (45) by Pieter Claesz will be shown in the Kunsthaus in Zürich and The National Gallery of Art in Washington.

(Well, I just keep replying to my own postings...).


If you want to see a picture of a 17th century Dutch flower-still life, you can do the next thing;

Go to http://www.franshalsmuseum.nl/index_en.html

and than click at "Collection" / "Paintings" / "Still Lifes" / "flower still life" of Hans Gillisz. Bollongier.

You'll see the white tulips with flames of red.

Hi Alfredo just picked up on your posts. Too tired to read through in depth now but I seem to remember the antique tulip story. Last time I was in Holland I picked up some blue tulips, they weren't of course, just a mauvey pink, but the anticipation outweighed the disappointment.
take care
boots

Well the store in Haarlem I am talking about has a good website;

http://www.janroozen.com/

And for e-mail [email protected]


The site is not in English, except the "certification of inspection" info.(U.S.A.-Canada)

In Dutch, "flowerbulbs" are called "bloembollen".
And "tulipbulbs" are called "tulpenbollen"
A "tulip" = tulp.
And "tulips" = tulpen.

The antique tulips are sold by them and named at their website as "Rembrandt tulpen".


They also sell tulips with a "certification of inspection" to consumers from the USA and Canada, but - to my knowledge - only óne specific tulipbulb and not the Rembrandt tulips.

I don't know what they "do" for to the rest of Europe.



Website-info; "certification of inspection for USA and Canada";

"From july till the end of november we sell tulipsbulbs for the USA and CANADA with a certification of inspection. You can take them through customs without problems. Just declare the certified bulbs on the customs form.

These tulipsbulbs come in the biggest bulbsize: 12/+


CERTIFICATION of INSPECTION

Plant Protection of the Netherlands

This is to certify that the the flowerbulbs in this package:

1. came from a consignment of bulbs for export covered under an official Phytosanitary certificate issued by the Plant Protection Service of the Netherlands,

2. were grown in/imported into the Netherlands,

3. were inspected during the growing season and at the time they were packed and were found to be free from injurious plant pests,

4. were grown on land wich, on the basis of official surveys/testing in the preceding spring, was free from quarantine pests of the USA/Canada,

5. are free from soil and related matter, and,

6. when in packing material, the packing material is (of the type) approved under (the provisoin of Nursery Stock, Plant and Seed) Quaratine No. 37/approved by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

7. Note to traveler: You must declare in the US/Canada customs form that these bulbs are in your possession".



Greatings from inspected Amsterdam

OK a research question. need to know what is exported from the dutch plant market to the uk on a calenda basis jan -dec. Not flowers just plants and why? Seaons etc. I know house plants come in in droves in June/july. Jo public has finished with the bedding plants and is turning his thoughts indoors but need to know what happens on a diary basis and why...fancy a challenge?
take care
boots

I wouldn't know.

The only thing I díd discover by visiting their website is, that there exist tulips that love to grow índoor(inside your living room). I didn't kwow that such a thing existed.

I don't think that plants etc. will be exported by mail by anyone.
Maybe seeds.

The shop in Haarlem (since 1735) sells also seeds.

Most plants are grown in glasshouses here and are sold all year around.
Others are grown by Dutch farmers in Nigeria and flown in by airplanes.

Do you know when the most éver was exported to the U.K.?
When princes Diana died...


Greatings from Amsterdam

Now I fínally found the English version of the Netherlands International Bulb Website.
It gives specific info about bulbs in áll their diversities, history, selling points/-ways, etc. etc.

The Netherlands Flower Bulb Information Centre.

http://www.bulb.com/


I discovered at their site, that these days móstly very good "look-a-likes" of the famous Dutch 17th century tulips are sold.
And that the "Darwin Tulip" is a product of the 20th century

Quote;

"Though the diseased varieties that fueled Tulipmania’s fires (17th century Haarlem/Holland) are no longer sold, many similar-looking, broken-striped varieties are available at retail and from mail-order catalogues. The look-a-likes are spectacular, recreating the look of Tulipmania’s "Rembrandt" tulips in genetically stable hybrids".



At this website you'll find many details about Dutch tulip bulbs.

http://www.bulb.com/

http://www.bulb.com/history.asp

Treasury of Flowerbulbs


The Hortus Bulborum in Limmen near Alkmaar (20 min. from Amsterdam), is the only garden in the world where you will find 2500 different tulips,hyacinths, daffodils and other bulbs in flower.

Each spring the Hortus Bulborum is packed with vivid colours.

Fundamental in this garden however is the preservation of old cultivars, and the Hortus most ancient tulips date from 1595 and daffodils from 1603.

The aim of this garden is to maintain these cultivars
and safeguard them for the future.


You can vistit the garden every spring, and visit our website

http://www.hortus-bulborum.nl/index2.htm

Dutch version; http://www.hortus-bulborum.nl/

And they also sell some antique tulip cultivars.
(5 cultivars x10 = 100 euro)




"This wil be the last time" (Stones) I do any postings about this subject.



Greatings from Amsterdam

As I mentioned before "Judith Leyster" was a female still life painter who lived and worked in Haarlem and was first a pupil of Frans Hals. She also painted a sef-portret.

There appears to be a tulip variety, which is named after her!

Tulipa Judith Leyster (white with a touch of pink).


And under the umbrella term "Rembrandt-tulips" are about ten different varieties (Union Jack, Prinses Irene, Shirley, etc. etc.)
The Tulipa Sorbet (white with red flames) is one of them and is, in my opinion, the best imitation.

(Cordell Hull is also a very nice imitation; red with white flames. The flower is bigger and higher than the "Sorbet").


I could not keep quiet about this discovery.

If anyone wants to read a book about the history of the tulip,
and lóves to see lots and lóts of pictures of ancient illustrations/paintings of tulips, this is the book;

The Tulip, by Anna Pavord.

Published in 1999 by Bloomsbury

ISBN 90.414.0367.1


I have a translation in Dutch and paid about 23 euro's/dollars for it.

Very cheap for a book of 439 pages and so many beautiful historical colourpictures