Adriaen van Cronenburg
Adriaen van Cronenburg (also Cronenburgh, Cronenburch) (Schagen, c. 1525 – Bergum, after 1604)[1] was a Northern Netherlandish painter. He produced mainly portraits.
Cronenburg was active between about 1547 and 1590, working in the provinces of Friesland and Groningen. He also spent some time in Belgium, especially in Leuven[1] and Antwerp, where he painted the portrait of Katheryn of Berain now in National Museum Cardiff.
Cronenburg's cousin married into two aristocratic families in succession, and it is likely through this connection that he became secretary of Tietjerksteradeel in 1567. Following the Union of Utrecht, Cronenburg left Friesland in 1580 due to his refusal to give up Catholicism. He was allowed to return to Friesland in 1592 and settled in Bergum.[2][1] The last signed works known are from 1587 and 1590.[3]
The identity of Adriaen van Cronenburg was established by A. Wassenbergh, formerly the director of the Fries Museum, based on his unusual signature, A.a.a.a. van Cronenburg.
For many years, the illogical signature was 'corrected' to 'Anna van Cronenburg,' but Wassenbergh showed that the four a's were a rebus for Adriaen. In Dutch A.a.a.a., read as 'A, three a's,' is pronounced 'A, drie a'en,' or Adriaen.[2]
References
- ^ a b c Prado Museum. "Enciclopedia: Adriaen van Cronenburch". Archived from the original on 2012-02-19. Retrieved 21 March 2013.
- ^ a b "Codart". Archived from the original on 20 March 2005. Retrieved 20 March 2013.
- ^ Prado Catalogue, p.90, though not referring to the Prado's works.
Further reading
- G. Marlier, "Un portraitiste frison du XVIe siècle. Anna ou Adriaen van Cronenburch", Oud-Holland 51 (1934) 1–10.
- P. Bakker, Gezicht op Leeuwarden. Schilders in Friesland en de markt voor schilderijen in de Gouden Eeuw, Amsterdam, 2008, p. 191
External links
- Paintings by Adriaen van Cronenburg in the Fries Museum
- 1 artwork by or after Adriaen van Cronenburg at the Art UK site