Theodor Von Der Beek was a notable painter of portraits and genre subjects.
Looking intently towards the viewer (and indeed himself), he carries the air of a man with cultivated tastes. He’s thirty here in 1868 and on the cusp of producing some of his finest works. Born in Kaiserswerth, one of the oldest quarters of Düsseldorf, Von Der Beek’s father was a beer brewer and he was initially trained in the family business.
However, by the age of 18, Von Der Beek had enrolled at the Düsseldorf Art Academy, a world-renowned centre of artistic excellence. Artists travelled from across Europe and the USA to train at Düsseldorf, due to its superior teaching methods under director, Wilhelm von Schadow (1789-1862). Essentially, the focus was on honing one’s skills as a figure painter with the approach derived from a blend of old and new. Von Schadow believed in studying nature with careful observation and was fascinated by French Neoclassicism.
Students graduated from the Academy with advanced technical ability, often capable of precise handling akin to the Renaissance masters. Some turned their hands to history painting or religion, while others, such as Von Der Beek, painted domesticity - exquisite scenes of idealised everyday life.
In ‘Hide and Seek’ (1884), a young shepherd leans through the window of a dwelling in loving pursuit of an attractive peasant girl. However, much to his disappointment, he’s met with the glare of her mother, while she hides behind a wall. With exquisite colouring and precise draughtsmanship, it’s rendered deftly.
Love, or at least the quest for it, was the subject of numerous works with men usually portrayed as hapless suitors, rebuffed by perfectly poised females. At times, he transposed this theme to Italian cottages, following various sojourns. He was awarded a medal at the Crystal Palace Exhibition in London for his achievements.
Towards the end of his career, he mainly produced portraits, residing in Düsseldorf for the remainder of his life.
He’s represented in various public collections including the Rheinisches Landesmuseum in Bonn, Landesmuseum Mainz, Westphalian State Museum in Münster, Museum Wiesbaden, and Paisley Museum.
Reviews
“A true work of art needs no explanation but rather reflects the artist's idea most clearly, applies above all to genre paintings which, like the charming von der Beck painting reproduced by us today in woodcut, are taken from the midst of contemporary popular life. We only need to remember our own experiences to understand the happy mood of the village youth gathered in the schoolyard in rainy weather.
Master Theodor von der Beek has already presented the German public with several such excellent folk scenes. The artist, born on April 20, 1838 in Kaiserswerth as the son of a brewer, was initially destined to join his father's business, only entered the Academy in Düsseldorf in the years 1856 to 1866 and then made study trips throughout southern Germany and the Rhine region. But our picture today certainly shows that he took the right path when changing his profession, and will undoubtedly provide our readers with real artistic enjoyment.”
Die Gartenlaube (1882)
Exhibited
Düsseldorf, Berlin, Dresden, Glasgow, London, Munich, Hamburg, Salzburg, Vienna.
Public Collections
Rheinisches Landesmuseum Bonn, Landesmuseum Mainz, Westphalian State Museum in Münster, Museum Wiesbaden, Paisley Museum.
Timeline
1838 (20th of April)
Born Wilhelm Theodor Von Der Beck in Kaiserswerth, Düsseldorf, Germany, to Johann Von Der Beck, a brewer, and Gertrud Von Der Beck (nee. Weyer).
1856
Enrolled at the Düsseldorf Art Academy and trained under Andreas Müller.
1859
Trained under Carl Ferdinand Sohn at the Düsseldorf Art Academy.
1862-1866
Trained under Eduard Bendemann at the Düsseldorf Art Academy.
1877
Awarded a gold medal at the Crystal Palace Exhibition in London.
1921
Died in Düsseldorf, Germany.