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painting seven hundred Italian landscapes without ever visiting Italy, convincing enough to fool a generation

Where to see Nicolaes Pieterszoon Berchem
Collection holdings are reported here; current display varies. Check with each museum before visiting.
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15 recorded works
Louvre
Paris, France
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15 recorded works
Rijksmuseum
Amsterdam, Netherlands
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15 recorded works
Hermitage Museum
Saint Petersburg, Russia
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9 recorded works
Mauritshuis
The Hague, Netherlands
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9 recorded works
National Trust
Swindon, United Kingdom
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9 recorded works
Royal Collection
London, United Kingdom
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1 recorded workArt Institute of Chicago
Chicago, United States
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8 recorded works
Victoria and Albert Museum
London, United Kingdom
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7 recorded works
Wallace Collection
London, United Kingdom
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6 recorded works
Gemäldegalerie Berlin
Berlin, Germany
View all 85 museums
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6 recorded works
Glasgow Museums Resource Centre
Glasgow, United Kingdom
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6 recorded works
Nationalmuseum
Stockholm, Sweden
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5 recorded works
Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp
Antwerp, Belgium
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5 recorded works
National Gallery
London, United Kingdom
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5 recorded works
Dulwich Picture Gallery
London, United Kingdom
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5 recorded works
National Gallery of Ireland
Dublin, Ireland
Also here (6)
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5 recorded works
National Museum in Warsaw
Warsaw, Poland
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4 recorded works
Johann Wilhelm von der Pfalz collection
Düsseldorf, Germany
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4 recorded works
Kunsthistorisches Museum
Vienna, Austria
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4 recorded works
Musée Fabre
Montpellier, France
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3 recorded works
Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen
Rotterdam, Netherlands
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3 recorded works
J. Paul Getty Museum
Los Angeles, United States
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3 recorded works
Kunsthaus Zürich
Zurich, Switzerland
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3 recorded works
Amsterdam Museum
Amsterdam, Netherlands
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3 recorded works
Museum der bildenden Künste
Leipzig, Germany
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2 recorded works
Norton Simon Museum
Pasadena, United States
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2 recorded works
Wallraf–Richartz Museum
Cologne, Germany
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2 recorded works
Kunstmuseum Basel
Basel, Switzerland
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2 recorded works
Dundee Art Galleries and Museums
Dundee, United Kingdom
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2 recorded works
Hessen Kassel Heritage
Kassel, Germany
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2 recorded works
Los Angeles County Museum of Art
Los Angeles, United States
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2 recorded works
Yale University Art Gallery
New Haven, United States
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1 recorded work
Toledo Museum of Art
Toledo, United States
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1 recorded work
Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts
Moscow, Russia
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1 recorded work
Ascott House
Wing, United Kingdom
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1 recorded work
Gemäldegalerie Alte Meister
Dresden, Germany
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1 recorded work
Städel Museum
Frankfurt, Germany
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1 recorded work
Ulster Museum
Belfast, United Kingdom
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1 recorded work
National Galleries Scotland
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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1 recorded work
Burrell Collection
Glasgow, United Kingdom
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1 recorded work
National Museum in Kraków
Kraków, Poland
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1 recorded work
Liechtenstein Museum
Vienna, Austria
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1 recorded work
National Gallery Prague
Prague, Czech Republic
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1 recorded work
Westphalian State Museum of Art and Cultural History
Münster, Germany
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1 recorded workWeston Park
Weston-under-Lizard, United Kingdom
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1 recorded work
Musée des Beaux-Arts de Rouen
Rouen, France
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1 recorded work
Museum of Fine Arts Boston
Boston, United States
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1 recorded work
Electoral Gallery Dusseldorf
Düsseldorf, Germany
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1 recorded workBolton Museum
Bolton, United Kingdom
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1 recorded work
Museum of Fine Arts Ghent (MSK)
Ghent, Belgium
35 more museums hold works by Nicolaes Pieterszoon Berchem with smaller collections, not listed here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I see Nicolaes Pieterszoon Berchem's work?
Nicolaes Pieterszoon Berchem's work can be viewed in numerous locations. In Europe, you can find his paintings in the Hermitage Museum (Leningrad), the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts (Moscow), and the Alte Pinakothek (Munich). Several galleries in London hold examples of his art, including the Dulwich College Picture Gallery, the National Gallery, and the Wallace Collection. Museums in Paris, such as the Louvre and the École des Beaux-Arts, also have pieces by Berchem. Other European cities with Berchem's work on display include Madrid (Prado), Nancy (Musée des Beaux-Arts), and Oxford (Ashmolean Museum). Outside of Europe, you can see Berchem's art at the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne and at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. Additionally, The National Gallery of Canada (Ottawa) possesses some of his pieces.What should I know about Nicolaes Pieterszoon Berchem's prints?
Nicolaes Pieterszoon Berchem (1620-1683) was a Dutch painter and etcher. He came from a family of artists; his father, Pieter Claesz, was a still-life painter. Berchem was active during the Dutch Golden Age, a time of great artistic output in the Netherlands. He is known for his Italianate paintings and prints, featuring pastoral scenes with shepherds, animals, and classical ruins. Berchem's prints often depict idyllic settings, reflecting a romanticised view of the Italian countryside. These works were popular among collectors in the 17th and 18th centuries, contributing to the demand for Italianate art in Northern Europe. His etchings display considerable skill in capturing light and atmosphere, often using a combination of etching and engraving techniques to achieve tonal variety. Berchem's prints provide insight into the artistic tastes and cultural exchanges of his time.Why are Nicolaes Pieterszoon Berchem's works important today?
Nicolaes Pieterszoon Berchem (1620-1683) was a Dutch Golden Age painter. He is remembered for his Italianate pastoral scenes. These works were popular during his lifetime and remained so for centuries afterward. Berchem's importance rests on several factors. First, he was a prolific and skilled artist. He produced a large body of paintings, drawings, and etchings. Second, his Italianate style was highly influential. Many artists imitated his approach to composition, light, and colour. This helped to spread the popularity of the Italianate style in the Netherlands. Third, Berchem was an influential teacher. He taught many students who went on to become successful artists themselves, including his son Nicolaes Berchem the Younger, Karel Dujardin, and Jan Weenix. His studio practice helped shape the next generation of Dutch painters. Finally, Berchem's works offer valuable insights into the artistic tastes and cultural values of the Dutch Golden Age. His paintings reflect the Dutch fascination with Italy and the countryside. They also reveal the period's interest in leisure, commerce, and social status.What techniques or materials did Nicolaes Pieterszoon Berchem use?
Nicolaes Pieterszoon Berchem (1620-1683) was a Dutch Golden Age painter, draughtsman, and etcher. He employed different techniques across these media. As a painter, Berchem is known for his use of light and shadow to create atmospheric effects in his pastoral scenes. He often painted Italianate subjects, featuring warm colours and detailed depictions of animals and figures. His paintings were typically executed in oil on canvas. Berchem was a prolific printmaker, producing many etchings throughout his career. His etchings often mirrored the themes of his paintings, with pastoral scenes and animal studies being common. In terms of technique, Berchem was known to use multiple bitings in his etching plates to achieve a range of tonal values. This involved immersing the plate in acid multiple times, covering certain areas with a resist to protect them from further etching. He was also known for his skill in creating fine lines and details in his etchings, which contributed to the overall delicacy of his prints.Who did Nicolaes Pieterszoon Berchem influence?
Nicolaes Pieterszoon Berchem, a Dutch Golden Age painter, influenced many artists with his Italianate style. He is known for his pastoral scenes, populated with shepherds, animals, and mythological figures. Among his pupils were Karel Dujardin, Adriaen van de Velde, and Pieter de Hooch. These artists adopted elements of Berchem's style, particularly his use of light and his approach to rendering bucolic settings. Dujardin, for example, also painted Italianate subjects, often featuring peasants and livestock. Van de Velde became known for his skill in painting animals, a skill he likely honed under Berchem's tutelage. De Hooch, while better known for his domestic interior scenes, also shows some influence from Berchem in his outdoor compositions. Beyond his direct students, Berchem's work had a broader impact on Dutch art. His Italianate style contributed to a fashion for southern-inspired subjects. This trend continued throughout the 17th and 18th centuries. His compositions and techniques were studied and emulated by numerous artists seeking to capture the idyllic qualities of the Italian countryside.Who influenced Nicolaes Pieterszoon Berchem?
Nicolaes Pieterszoon Berchem (1620-1683) came from a family of artists. His father, Pieter Claesz, was a still-life painter in Haarlem. According to some accounts, Berchem studied with his father; however, other sources suggest he studied with Jan van Goyen, Claes Cornelisz Moeyaert, Pieter de Grebber, and Jan Wils. Karel van Mander's *Schilder-Boeck* (1604) is an important source for information about early Dutch artists, and it may have shaped Berchem's artistic education. Berchem's style shows the influence of various Italianate Dutch painters. These artists, such as Jan Both and Bartholomeus Breenbergh, depicted Italianate pastoral settings, which became a popular genre. Berchem never travelled to Italy; however, he successfully captured an idealised vision of the Italian countryside in his paintings, drawings, and prints. His use of light and atmospheric effects, along with his subject matter of shepherds and grazing animals, demonstrates the impact of these earlier artists on his work.What style or movement did Nicolaes Pieterszoon Berchem belong to?
Nicolaes Pieterszoon Berchem (1620-1683) was a Dutch artist who worked during the Baroque era (c. 1600-1700). The Baroque style followed Mannerism and is thought to come from the Portuguese word "barocco", meaning a misshapen pearl. It is a term used to describe art that is full of emotion, dynamism, and drama, often with strong tonal contrasts. It was developed as a result of religious tensions in Europe and was meant to strengthen the image of Catholicism. However, it did not remain exclusively associated with religious art. Baroque artists aimed to interpret stories clearly and realistically. Their work is exuberant and intense, with solid, believable figures and human dramas. The style inherited movement and emotion from Mannerism, while it took solidity, perspective, and classical lines from the Renaissance. Two significant aspects of Baroque art are the use of contrasts between light and shadow and the close observation of textures and details. In Northern Europe, the Baroque style emphasised realism in daily life.What was Nicolaes Pieterszoon Berchem known for?
Nicolaes Pieterszoon Berchem (1620-1683) was a Dutch painter admired for his contributions to the Italianate style. This style saw Dutch artists drawing inspiration from Italian scenery and often incorporating it into their works. Berchem never actually travelled to Italy; he absorbed the Italian aesthetic through the work of his peers. Berchem's paintings usually depict pastoral scenes. These often include shepherds tending livestock amid warm, sunny atmospheres. His skill in rendering light and texture, combined with his compositional abilities, made him a celebrated figure. He was also a teacher; he influenced many artists, passing on his techniques and stylistic preferences. His work was popular during his lifetime and remains so today, as it offers a window into the artistic exchange between the Netherlands and Italy during the Baroque era.
Sources
Where to See guide aggregates verified holdings of Nicolaes Pieterszoon Berchem's works across the following collections.
- [1] museum Liechtenstein Museum Used for: museum holdings.
- [2] museum Weston Park Used for: museum holdings.
- [3] museum Royal Pump Rooms Used for: museum holdings.
- [4] museum Bolton Museum Used for: museum holdings.
- [5] museum Royal Cornwall Museum Used for: museum holdings.
- [6] museum Musées Nationaux Récupération Used for: museum holdings.
- [7] academic The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica, Nicolaes Pietersz Berchem | Dutch Painter, Landscapes, Genre Scenes Used for: biography.
- [8] book Victoria Charles, Baroque Art Used for: biography, stylistic analysis.
- [9] museum Nicolaes Berchem (Getty Museum) Used for: biography.
- [10] museum Nicolaes Berchem - Rest - The Metropolitan Museum of Art Used for: museum holdings.
- [11] museum Nicolaes Pietersz Berchem | National Gallery of Art Used for: biography.
- [12] museum Nicolaes Pietersz Berchem - Rijksmuseum Used for: biography.
Editorial overseen by Solis Prints. Sources verified 2026-10-29. Click a source for details, or hover over [N] in the page above to preview.
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