AELST, Willem van Dutch painter (b. 1627, Delft, d. ca. 1683, Amsterdam)

Willem van Aelst (1627–1683) was a preeminent Dutch Golden Age painter who redefined the still life genre through his extraordinary technical virtuosity and international flair. Unlike many of his contemporaries who remained in the Netherlands, Van Aelst’s style was deeply

shaped by his years as a court painter in France and Italy.

Quick Biography

• Born: May 16, 1627, in Delft. He was the nephew and pupil of the still-life painter Evert van Aelst.

• European Travels: In 1645, he moved to France (Paris) and later to Florence (1649–1656).

• Royal Patronage: In Italy, he served as the court painter to Ferdinando II de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany. He often signed his works with the Italianized name "Guillielmo d'Olanda" (William of Holland).

• Final Years: He returned to the Netherlands in 1656, settling in Amsterdam, where he became one of the most sought-after and highest-paid artists of his time. He was buried on May 22, 1683.

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Artistic Style and Innovations

Van Aelst is celebrated for bringing a sense of "aristocratic elegance" to Dutch still life. His major contributions include:

• Asymmetry: He was one of the first artists to move away from the rigid, centered "pyramid" compositions of the early 17th century, introducing dynamic, S-curved, and asymmetrical arrangements.

• Technical Realism: He was a master of textures. His paintings are famous for the "cool" metallic sheen of silver tazzas, the velvet softness of hunting bags, and the translucency of grape skins.

• The "Game Piece": He revolutionized the hunting still life (dead game), portraying birds and hares with such precision that the individual feathers and fur appear tactile.

• Jewel-Toned Palette: His works often feature a sophisticated, cool color palette dominated by blues, silvers, and deep greens, contrasting with the warmer earth tones used by previous generations.

Notable Works

Work	Year	Location
Flower Still Life with a Timepiece	1663	Mauritshuis, The Hague
Still Life with Dead Game	1661	National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.
Still Life with Fruit and Crystal Vase	1652	Palazzo Pitti, Florence
Still Life with a Silver Tazza and Fruit	1681	Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg

Legacy: Van Aelst was a highly influential teacher; his most famous pupil was Rachel Ruysch, who became one of the most celebrated female flower painters in history.