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Portrait of Hendrick de Keyser in Cornelis de Bie’s Gulden Cabinet. photo by Jan Meyssens fecit –

Top 10 Fascinating Facts about Hendrick de Keyser

The sculpture is the branch of the visual arts that operates in three dimensions. A sculpture is a three-dimensional piece of art that has physical height, breadth, and depth proportions. It is one of the plastic arts.

To create durable sculptures out of stone, metal, ceramics, wood, and other materials, carving (the removal of material) and modelling (the addition of material, such as clay) were initially used.

However, since Modernism, there has been almost total freedom in terms of both the materials and the process. Numerous materials can be carved, welded, modelled, moulded, or cast in addition to being manipulated by removal techniques like carving.

Sculpture architects go back in time to the old days when the skill was one of the most sorts after. Those with prowess in sculpture were able to come up with some of the most complex yet adorable pieces.

One such architect was Hendrick de Keyser, the outstanding Dutch sculptor and one of the leading Dutch architects of his period.

Hendrick de Keyser born on 15 May 1565 was a Dutch sculptor, merchant in Belgium bluestone, and architect. Hendrick de Keyser was one of the most important architects and a major sculptor in Holland at the end of the 1500s and the beginning of the 1600s.

Born the son of a stonemason/cabinetmaker in Utrecht, de Keyser probably first studied with his father. Here are the top 10 fascinating facts about him.

1. Hendrick was apprenticed to the engineer Cornelis Bloemaert

Hendrick de Keyser was born in Utrecht and was the son of a cabinetmaker. He grew up in an expropriated monastery, the Catalijne Convent. As a young man, he was apprenticed to the engineer Cornelis Bloemaert (the elder).

Cornelis Bloemaert was a Dutch Golden Age painter and engraver. In 1591 he followed Bloemaert to Amsterdam and married Beyken van Wildre from Antwerp. Soon he set to work as an independent artist.

2. He participated in creating the famous Gouda windows

This image is available from the Netherlands Institute for Art History under digital ID 65831. photo by Gerrit Gerritsz. Cuyp (Dordrecht) –

Relatively few people are aware that De Keyser also had a hand in the creation of the famous Gouda windows, specifically as the author of the cartoon for The Parable of the Pharisee and the Publican.

This window which bears the date 1597 is close to the western end of the south aisle and was dominated by the burgomasters of Amsterdam.

The 16th-century stained-glass windows in De Sint Janskerk (St John’s Church) in Gouda, South Holland are among the best post-medieval religious art in The Netherlands.

3. Hendrick was appointed Amsterdam city’s stonemason and sculptor

Sculpture (without title, 1998, sculptor Tom Claassen) in front of the Hojel City Center (Utrecht, Netherlands) photo by Wil Leeuwis –

In 1595 he was appointed city stonemason and sculptor. Hendrick de Keyser was one of the most important architects and a major sculptor in Holland at the end of the 1500s and the beginning of the 1600s.

De Keyser probably first studied with his father before being apprenticed to the architect and sculptor Cornelis Bloemaert in Dordrecht. In 1591 after moving and becoming a citizen of Amsterdam, his talents were soon recognized.

He was then named to the influential post of city architect and sculptor. In this capacity, he worked on government buildings, churches, spires, and decorative towers.

4. He created his form of Renaissance called Dutch Mannerism

Hendrick de Keyser was a Dutch sculptor, merchant in Belgium bluestone, and architect who was instrumental in establishing a late Renaissance form of Mannerism changing into Baroque.

He was one of the most important Dutch sculptors of his day and an architect whose works formed a transition between the ornamental style of the Dutch Renaissance and the Classicism of the 17th century.

Mannerism, which may also be known as the Late Renaissance, is a style in European art that emerged in the later years of the Italian High Renaissance around 1520, spreading by about 1530 and lasting until about the end of the 16th century in Italy, when the Baroque style largely replaced it.

5. Hendrick visited London to study the Royal Exchange

View of Royal Exchange and London Troops War Memorial photo by Poidabro –

Construction on the Zuiderkerk was put on hold in 1603 but was picked up again in 1606 after an agreement with the church board.

He travelled to London at the same time to study at the Royal Exchange alongside Cornelis Danckerts de Ry. He contracted Nicholas Stone there. They might have also met Inigo Jones.

The city of Amsterdam sent him to London to view the new Royal Exchange before beginning work on the design of the Amsterdam Exchange.

6. Hendrick designed the tomb of William the Silent

William I, Prince of Orange, called William the Silent photo by Adriaen Thomasz. Key –

De Keyser is well known for the imposing tomb for William I (the Silent) at Delft, which stands out among his sculptures.

De Keyser continued to work as a sculptor in addition to pursuing a career as an architect. He designed William the Silent’s tomb for the Nieuwe Kerk in Delft (1614-1623). De Keyser, however, did not live to witness the completed work.

His work was finished by his son Pieter, who used his equipment and creations. A study for the work, a terracotta model of the prince lying in state, is in the Rijksmuseum collection.

7. Hendrick seriously pursued architecture after his Italian tour of 1614

He visited London to study at the Royal Exchange, London but he does not appear to have turned seriously to architecture until after his Italian tour in 1614.

He seriously pursued architecture after his Italian tour where he proceeded to produce many tabletop bronzes, a popular type of object that he may have introduced to the Netherlands after a trip to Italy.

8. His sons were also involved in buildings

He was the father of Pieter and Thomas de Keyser and Willem, and the uncle of Hubert de Keyser, who became his apprentices and all involved in building, decoration and architecture.

His youngest son, Hendrick de Keyser I, became a talented sculptor and architect and the most renowned member of the family.

Hendrick’s sons, Pieter de Keyser and Willem de Keyser followed in his footsteps but did not reach the heights of his artistic accomplishments, while Thomas de Keyser became a significant portrait painter.

9. He is famous for designing Amsterdam’s skyline in the 1600s 

View of Zuiderkerk and canal houses on Raamgracht in Amsterdam photo by acediscovery –

Most of his works appeared in Amsterdam, and some elsewhere in the Dutch Republic. Like his teacher, De Keyser combined architecture and sculpture, although he is best known as the architect of buildings in Amsterdam.

His Zuiderkerk, Westerkerk and Mint Tower remain major landmarks in Amsterdam’s inner city.

10. He died on the same date that he was born

Hendrick de Keyser was born on 15 May 1565 and he died on 15 May 1621. He was 56 years old.