Aert Schouman

Master of natural history art and Dutch elegance

Aert Schouman (1710-1792) represents one of the most multifaceted and prolific artists from the Netherlands of the 18th century. His career spanned more than five decades and he worked in Dordrecht, The Hague and Middelburg where he created a vast artistic legacy that continues to fascinate art lovers worldwide. For the modern art collector, posters and art prints of Schouman's work offer a unique opportunity to take home a piece of Dutch art history.

An artist of extraordinary versatility

Schouman was not only a painter but also a glass engraver, printmaker, collector and art dealer. His extensive output included still lifes, biblical and mythological subjects, natural history studies, genre scenes, historical works, portraits, etchings and mezzotint prints. He designed wallpapers, painted wall hangings and decorated objects such as sun feathers and snuff boxes. This versatility makes him an ideal artist for modern home decoration projects where different styles and themes can be combined to create a personal expression.

Naturalistic masterpieces and exotic birds

It is primarily for his watercolours of plants and animals that Schouman is best known today. His bird studies, especially of exotic species, were carried out in park-like or Italian landscapes. Schouman had access to the menagerie of Stadtholder Willem V, where he could study and depict animals in detail. This gave him the opportunity to combine scientific rigour with artistic elegance – a synthesis that was highly valued by both royal and private patrons in the 18th century.

His depictions of animals from the royal menagerie, along with the works of Simon Fokke, formed the core of thirty-four treatises on exotic animals published between 1767 and 1787. These works represent not only artistic skill but also an important document of the 18th century union of science and aesthetics. For those seeking wall art with both historical value and visual beauty, Schoumans bird posters are an excellent choice.

Formal education and influential career

At the age of fifteen, Schouman became an apprentice to the Dordrecht artist Adriaan van der Burg. He was also trained in glass engraving by Frans Greenwood, who invented the stipple style in which Schouman also worked. From 1742 to 1792 he was head of the Dordrecht guild association of Saint Luke and in 1751 he became regent of the Hague drawing school which was connected to the Confrerie Pictura.

Schouman had a remarkable teaching career and accepted his first student as early as 1733. Among his many students are names such as Jan van Os, Jacobus Vonck and his grandnephew Martinus Schouman. His influence on Dutch art cannot be overestimated and his position as leading artist in Zeeland between 1735 and 1785 cemented his status as one of the most important cultural figures of the era.

Portraits and decorative works

Around 1748 Schouman moved from Dordrecht to The Hague where his reputation as a portrait painter and muralist grew. His self-portrait from 1750 shows him as artist-regent holding a gilded female figure and the insignia of Pictura. In the second half of the 18th century Schouman was in great demand as a painter of decorative landscapes with birds and his decorative murals adorned noble houses and manors throughout the Netherlands.

Collector's and market value

Schouman's work has been auctioned several times with realized prices ranging from $88 to $294,239 depending on the size and medium of the work. This is testament to the enduring appeal of his art and makes high-quality reproductions and art prints an attractive option for art lovers who want access to his work without the museum price tag.

Rococo and classicism in harmonious union

Schouman depicted biblical scenes in a decorative, elegant style that reveals the increasing influence of Rococo and Classicism. His ability to balance drama with intimacy, as in his interpretation of The Flight into Egypt, shows an artist who mastered both the monumental and the personal. For the modern interior designer, this offers a flexibility where Schouman's posters can fit equally well in classical as in contemporary settings.

Schouman's works in your home decor

Art prints and posters by Aert Schoumans are ideal for a variety of interior styles. His bird studies are perfect as wall decorations in bedrooms, living rooms or study rooms, adding both color and elegance. The natural history motifs complement Scandinavian minimalism as well as enriching classic interiors. For those who collect art prints with historical significance, Schoumans' work is an obvious choice.

By choosing high-quality art prints of Schouman's most famous motifs – such as cockatoo heads, exotic birds in Italian landscapes or his decorative still lifes – you can create an art collection that combines aesthetic beauty with cultural-historical value. Each print becomes a window into the Dutch Golden Age and the 18th century fascination with science and art.

Aert Schouman's multifaceted output and his ability to combine scientific precision with artistic vision make him a timeless artist whose work continues to inspire and decorate homes around the world. Whether you are looking for minimalist bird studies or more detailed compositions, there is a Schouman motif that will suit your style and your home.

Aert Schouman posters & art prints

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