Willem van Bemmel was a Dutch Golden Age painter of landscapes, particularly known for his exquisite Italianate vistas. Born in Utrecht, he trained under the distinguished Herman Saftleven (1609-1685) before undertaking a grand tour culminating with an extended stay in Venice and Rome.

Travelling to Italy during the mid-17th century was a complex endeavour involving a perilous journey of over 800 miles by carriage. Often funded by the artists’ parents, it was extraordinarily expensive and fraught with danger. Not only were the plucky adventurers the target of various nomadic miscreants, they also had to tackle the ferocity of the Alps. Some never made it, others never returned.

Van Bemmel began his tour at just 17 years old, keen to join his Dutch compatriot on their cultural sojourn. Today, one might compare these lengthy study trips to enrolling at University - whereby the learning was paramount but the activities not entirely salubrious. For those leaving home for the first time, it was the Baroque equivalent of a booze cruise. Such was the level of debauchery that the Dutch and Flemish artistic contingent in Rome became notorious for their antics. Dubbed collectively as the Bentvueghels (‘Birds of a Feather’), their meetings often descended into frantic drinking bouts and bizarre initiation rituals - often concluding with a march to the church of Santa Costanza (the ‘Temple of Bacchus’). 

However, despite this, there was still much to be gained from studying the rich tapestry of Renaissance masters and indeed the environment itself. Collectors across Europe favoured those with Italian experience and in The Netherlands, Italianate views were highly sought after. In the words of the influential writer, Arnold Houbraken, the 17th-century “had no esteem for artists unless they had seen Rome”.

Van Bemmel settled in Rome between 1649 and 1653 where he became enchanted with the works of Franco-Italian landscape painter, Gaspard Dughet (1615-1675). From here, he crossed the Alps to Nuremberg in Germany where he remained, marrying Agnes Pisanus, the daughter of a ‘smoke merchant’.

In this work from circa 1670, he’s captured a ruined mediaeval tower, serving as a gatehouse. In the foreground, a weary packhorse carries barriels with a dog alongside, while two sentries guard the route. Further on, an ancient town stands atop cliffs with distant mountains described in a blueish haze. He was a master at capturing light effects on architecture and it’s reminiscent of his work from 1667 depicting the Roman arch Arch of Drusus. Also Jan Both’s ‘The Titus Arch in Rome’.

Van Bemmel’s sons Peter von Bemmel and Johan Georg von Bemmel both became artists of repute and continued the ‘Von Bemmel’ painting legacy in Nuremberg. He’s represented in numerous public collections including at the British Museum, Smithsonian American Art Museum, V&A Museum, Rijksmuseum and Centraal Museum in Utrecht.

Public Collections

The British Museum, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Rijksmuseum, V&A Museum, Centraal Museum in Utrecht, Nuremberg Municipal Museum, Barts Health NHS Trust Archives and Museums, St John's College, University of Oxford, Crocker Art Museum, The University of Melbourne, Fabre Museum in Montpellier, Germanic National Museum in Nuremberg, State Art Gallery Karlsruhe, National Museum in Krakow, Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, State Art Collections Dresden, Bavarian State Painting Collections, Kunsthistorisches Museum, The Norwegian Museum of Art, National Portrait Gallery, Philadelphia Museum of Art, National Museum in Stockholm, National Gallery of Art in Washington, National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne, Städel Museum in Frankfurt. 

Timeline

1630

Born in Utrecht, The Netherlands. The younger brother of landscape painter Jacob Gerritsz van Bemmel (1628-1673).

Studied in Utrecht under Herman Saftleven (1609-1685).

1647-1649

Undertook a grand tour and lived in Venice.

1649-1653

Lived in Rome and undertook trips to Naples. Here, he became inspired by the landscapes of Gaspard Dughet (1615-1675).
Became a member of the 'Bentvueghels'. A group of Rome-based Flemish and Dutch artists.

1653

Travelled to London.

1656-1662

Lived in Kassel, Germany.

1662

Moved to Augsburg, Germany.
Moved to Nuremberg, Germany, where he settled.
Married Agnes Pisanus, the daughter of ‘smoke merchant’, Gottfried Pisanus.

1663

Travelled to Utrecht.
Returned to Nuremberg, Germany.

1708

Died in Nuremberg, Germany.