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Robert Griffier

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Detail of a rowboat on the Thames in front of Syon House

Robert Griffier (c. 1675 in England – after 1727 in Amsterdam), was an 18th-century landscape painter from London who was active in Amsterdam.

Biography

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According to Houbraken, Griffier was born in England in 1688 as the son of Dutch painter Jan Griffier, and learned painting from his father.[1] He did not accompany his family when they moved to the Netherlands and so wasn't on board when they had their shipwreck in 1695, but was in Ireland.[1] Before 1700 he moved to the Netherlands and after his father returned to England, he stayed in Amsterdam, painting Italianate landscapes in the manner of Herman Saftleven.[1]

According to the RKD Houbraken, Griffier was born on 7 October 1688, but this is the birthdate of his brother Jan (John), who may have shared his studio.[2] Some of his works are co-signed by Carel Breydel.[2] From these his birth year is deduced as c. 1675. He became an Amsterdam citizen in October 1716.[2] He went to London after his father's death in 1718.[2] Jan van Gool wrote that he met Robert in London in 1727.[2] Van Gool claimed he was a follower of Philips Wouwerman and Van de Velde who could paint "Rhine landscapes" and had on occasion painted figures in Ruisdael paintings.[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b c (in Dutch) Robert Griffier Biography in De groote schouburgh der Nederlantsche konstschilders en schilderessen (1718) by Arnold Houbraken, courtesy of the Digital library for Dutch literature
  2. ^ a b c d e Robert Griffier in the RKD
  3. ^ Griffier in Jan van Gool's biographies of painters
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