Jürgen Ovens (1623 – 9 December 1678), also known as Georg, or Jurriaen Ovens whilst in the Netherlands, was a portrait painter and art-dealer from North Frisia and, according to Arnold Houbraken, a pupil of Rembrandt. He is best known for his painting in the city hall of Amsterdam and paintings for the Dukes of Holstein-Gottorp for whom he worked for more than 30 years, also as an art dealer.
Ovens was born and grew up in Tönning, Duchy of Schleswig, the son of Frisian[1] farmer and alderman Ove Broders and Agneta Ovens (also called Broders). Although that duchy was formally a Danish fief, Ovens is often counted among German painters.[2][3][4] Since 1640 he worked for Hendrick van Uylenburgh with Govaert Flinck in the Sint Antoniesbreestraat. It has been suggested he went to Italy between 1643 and 1649, but there is no evidence. Until 1651, he lived in Amsterdam, then from May 1651 he went back to Schleswig-Holstein, claimed by Frederick III, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp. In 1652 he married Maria Jens Martens (daughter of a rich Tönning alderman) in Friedrichstadt. His father-in-law gave him 60,000 Thaler, but demanded that he settle down nearby.
Ovens was living in the Jordaan in a canalhouse with a large studio under the roof. He rented out the cellar as a public house, just like Flinck did, who used to own it and died the year before. The art-dealer Gerrit van Uylenburgh bought the house next door owned by Flinck.[5]Johannes Lingelbach was a friend and a witness when his children were baptized in the Lutheran church. In 1661 Ovens was asked to finish a painting begun by Flinck. The painting had to be placed in the town hall, within a few days, when Rembrandt's painting The Conspiracy of Claudius Civilis was rejected. Ovens was paid 48 guilders, very little compared to the others, but still a good salary in those days.
In 1663 Ovens returned to Friedrichstadt at the instruction of Christian Albert, Duke of Holstein-Gottorp, as one of the richest inhabitants. He invited Johannes Voorhout to work for him, but the painter declined the offer. From 1674 to 1675, he lived again in Holland and painted Michiel de Ruyter and Joan Huydecoper van Maarsseveen. After returning to Schleswig he painted the altarpiece of St. Christopher's in Friedrichstadt, painting himself in its top right section. His grave is also in the church.
Ovens' best-known work is the Blue Madonna in Schleswig Cathedral. A self-portrait may be seen in the Laurentius-Kirche in Tönning. Further works by Ovens can be found in the collections of the Schleswig-Holsteinischen Landesmuseums at the Schloss Gottorf. He made 45 paintings for the Amalienburg in Gottorf. The Earl of Arundel (or his grandmother Aletheia Talbot?) owned seventeen paintings by Ovens, belonging to a collection of 78 paintings which were sold on September 26, 1684 in Amsterdam.[11] According to Schmidt there is nothing German in his paintings and he belongs to the Dutch School of painting.[2]
^Prange, Peter (2007). Deutsche Zeichnungen aus dem Kupferstichkabinett der Hamburger Kunsthalle 1450-1800 (in German). Böhlau. ISBN978-3-412-35305-6.
^Klessmann, Rüdiger; Brochhagen, Ernst, eds. (1966). Deutsche Maler und Zeichner des 17. Jahrhunderts. Berlin: Stiftung Preussischer Kulturbesitz, Staatliche Museen. Exhibition catalogue.
^Dudok van Heel, Sebastiaan Abraham Cornelis (1982). "Het 'Schilderhuis' van Govert Flinck en de Kunsthandel van Uylenburgh aan de Lauriergracht te Amsterdam". Amstelodamum Jaarboek (in Dutch). 74: 77–8.
^F. Lammertse & J. van der Veen (2006) Uylenburh & Zoon. Kunst en commercie van Rembrandt tot De Lairesse 1625-1675, p. 260-263.
^Portrait of Godard Adriaan van Reede 2011-07-27 at the Wayback Machine
^Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 28
^Bredius, A., Künstler-Inventare. Urkunden zur Geschichte der Holländischen Kunst des XVIten, XVIIten und XVIIIten Jahrhunderts ('s-Gravenhage 1915-1922). G. 1613.
^Hoet, Gerard (ed.). Catalogus of naamlyst van schilderyen, met derzelver pryzen zedert een langen reeks van jaaren zoo in Holland als op andere plaatzen in het openbaar verkogt ... (in Dutch).
Works cited
Schmidt, Harry R. A. (1922). Jürgen Ovens; sein Leben und seine Werke. Ein Beitrag zur Geschichte der niederländischen Malerei im 17. Jahrhundert (in German). Kiel: Harry Schmidt. p. 7.
Further readingedit
Ulrich Schulte-Wülwer: Malerei in Schleswig-Holstein, Katalog der Gemäldesammlung des Städtischen Museums Flensburg, Heide 1989.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jürgen Ovens.
Works and literature at PubHist
Unfinished Claudius Civilis by Ovens
Amsterdam City Archives: records on his two children and wife[permanent dead link]
Biography in German with links to a novel by Theodor Storm
Painting by Ovens of John Hutchinson. Colonel Hutchinson was one of the major figures in the English Civil War. He was based in Nottingham.
December 18, 2023
jürgen, ovens, 1623, december, 1678, also, known, georg, jurriaen, ovens, whilst, netherlands, portrait, painter, dealer, from, north, frisia, according, arnold, houbraken, pupil, rembrandt, best, known, painting, city, hall, amsterdam, paintings, dukes, holst. Jurgen Ovens 1623 9 December 1678 also known as Georg or Jurriaen Ovens whilst in the Netherlands was a portrait painter and art dealer from North Frisia and according to Arnold Houbraken a pupil of Rembrandt He is best known for his painting in the city hall of Amsterdam and paintings for the Dukes of Holstein Gottorp for whom he worked for more than 30 years also as an art dealer Jurgen OvensJurgen Ovens Self portraitBorn1623TonningDied9 December 1678FriedrichstadtNationalityDanishEducationUnder RembrandtKnown forPaintingNotable workBlue Madonna in Schleswig CathedralMovementBaroque Contents 1 Life 2 Works 3 References 4 Further reading 5 External linksLife editOvens was born and grew up in Tonning Duchy of Schleswig the son of Frisian 1 farmer and alderman Ove Broders and Agneta Ovens also called Broders Although that duchy was formally a Danish fief Ovens is often counted among German painters 2 3 4 Since 1640 he worked for Hendrick van Uylenburgh with Govaert Flinck in the Sint Antoniesbreestraat It has been suggested he went to Italy between 1643 and 1649 but there is no evidence Until 1651 he lived in Amsterdam then from May 1651 he went back to Schleswig Holstein claimed by Frederick III Duke of Holstein Gottorp In 1652 he married Maria Jens Martens daughter of a rich Tonning alderman in Friedrichstadt His father in law gave him 60 000 Thaler but demanded that he settle down nearby nbsp Jacob Fighting the Angel NationalmuseumIn 1654 Ovens spent a few weeks in Stockholm to paint the marriage between Charles X Gustav and Hedwig Eleonora of Holstein Gottorp In 1655 Gerrit van Uylenburgh came to visit him In 1657 Ovens travelled to Amsterdam because of a war between the Swedish and the Danish He cooperated with Govert Flinck Ovens became a citizen of Amsterdam in order to start a business or to get a job as the rules of guilds were very strict He also sent statues by Artus Quellinus the Elder to Gottorf Ovens was living in the Jordaan in a canalhouse with a large studio under the roof He rented out the cellar as a public house just like Flinck did who used to own it and died the year before The art dealer Gerrit van Uylenburgh bought the house next door owned by Flinck 5 Johannes Lingelbach was a friend and a witness when his children were baptized in the Lutheran church In 1661 Ovens was asked to finish a painting begun by Flinck The painting had to be placed in the town hall within a few days when Rembrandt s painting The Conspiracy of Claudius Civilis was rejected Ovens was paid 48 guilders very little compared to the others but still a good salary in those days In 1663 Ovens returned to Friedrichstadt at the instruction of Christian Albert Duke of Holstein Gottorp as one of the richest inhabitants He invited Johannes Voorhout to work for him but the painter declined the offer From 1674 to 1675 he lived again in Holland and painted Michiel de Ruyter and Joan Huydecoper van Maarsseveen After returning to Schleswig he painted the altarpiece of St Christopher s in Friedrichstadt painting himself in its top right section His grave is also in the church Ovens owned six painting by Anthony van Dyck and three by Jacob Jordaens Rubens etc 6 Works edit nbsp Jurgen Ovens s Justitia 1663 1665 Museumsberg Flensburg Ovens painted himself on the left Ovens was appreciated for his portraits and painted Nicolaes Tulp twice his daughter Margaretha Tulp her brother Dirk and his wife Anna Burgh He also painted a portrait of the parents of Godert de Ginkell 1st Earl of Athlone 7 Comenius Maarten Tromp Charles II of England Colonel John Hutchinson 8 9 Adam Olearius three times Christina of Sweden Queen Sophie Amalie of Denmark Jacob Backer Jacques Specx 10 Lucia Wijbrants Dirck Kerckring and twice Giuseppe Francesco Borri an eye doctor charlatan and alchemist Ovens best known work is the Blue Madonna in Schleswig Cathedral A self portrait may be seen in the Laurentius Kirche in Tonning Further works by Ovens can be found in the collections of the Schleswig Holsteinischen Landesmuseums at the Schloss Gottorf He made 45 paintings for the Amalienburg in Gottorf The Earl of Arundel or his grandmother Aletheia Talbot owned seventeen paintings by Ovens belonging to a collection of 78 paintings which were sold on September 26 1684 in Amsterdam 11 According to Schmidt there is nothing German in his paintings and he belongs to the Dutch School of painting 2 References editCitations Schmidt p 7 a b Schmidt p 286 Prange Peter 2007 Deutsche Zeichnungen aus dem Kupferstichkabinett der Hamburger Kunsthalle 1450 1800 in German Bohlau ISBN 978 3 412 35305 6 Klessmann Rudiger Brochhagen Ernst eds 1966 Deutsche Maler und Zeichner des 17 Jahrhunderts Berlin Stiftung Preussischer Kulturbesitz Staatliche Museen Exhibition catalogue Dudok van Heel Sebastiaan Abraham Cornelis 1982 Het Schilderhuis van Govert Flinck en de Kunsthandel van Uylenburgh aan de Lauriergracht te Amsterdam Amstelodamum Jaarboek in Dutch 74 77 8 F Lammertse amp J van der Veen 2006 Uylenburh amp Zoon Kunst en commercie van Rembrandt tot De Lairesse 1625 1675 p 260 263 Portrait of Godard Adriaan van Reede Archived 2011 07 27 at the Wayback Machine Sandown Castle Archived 2009 04 11 at the Wayback Machine Dictionary of National Biography 1885 1900 Volume 28 Bredius A Kunstler Inventare Urkunden zur Geschichte der Hollandischen Kunst des XVIten XVIIten und XVIIIten Jahrhunderts s Gravenhage 1915 1922 G 1613 Hoet Gerard ed Catalogus of naamlyst van schilderyen met derzelver pryzen zedert een langen reeks van jaaren zoo in Holland als op andere plaatzen in het openbaar verkogt in Dutch Works citedSchmidt Harry R A 1922 Jurgen Ovens sein Leben und seine Werke Ein Beitrag zur Geschichte der niederlandischen Malerei im 17 Jahrhundert in German Kiel Harry Schmidt p 7 Further reading editUlrich Schulte Wulwer Malerei in Schleswig Holstein Katalog der Gemaldesammlung des Stadtischen Museums Flensburg Heide 1989 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jurgen Ovens Works and literature at PubHist Works by Jurgen Ovens Rijksmuseum on Jurgen Ovens Unfinished Claudius Civilis by Ovens Amsterdam City Archives records on his two children and wife permanent dead link Biography in German with links to a novel by Theodor Storm A painting of a young woman as Flora goddess Portrait of a young lady Painting by Ovens of John Hutchinson Colonel Hutchinson was one of the major figures in the English Civil War He was based in Nottingham Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Jurgen Ovens amp oldid 1108639268, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
