Graphics
by Leonaert BRAMER

Bramer was an extraordinarily prolific draftsman, not only by Delft standards but also by comparison with most other artists who were working in the northern Netherlands at the time. Apart from some genre representations, he was exclusively a history painter. His drawn oeuvre largely consists of sequences of illustrations based primarily on the Bible but also on classical and more or less contemporary literature. Bramer's series, which often fill 50 sheets, include the Old Testament, the New Testament, The Life of Alexander the Great, Livy's History of Rome, Virgil's Aeneid, Ovid's Metamorphoses, Francisco Quevedo's Spanish Dreams, and the anonymous Life of Lazarillo of Tormes and Tyl Eulenspiegel. Bramer made these unique series throughout his career. They reflect his artistic development from the early rapid brush drawings characterized by dramatic light and shade to the late, meticulously finished, and evenly lit coloured sheets.

In addition to the sequential illustrations, Bramer's oeuvre on paper consists of preparatory drawings for all kind of projects he was working on, such as large interior decorations that include murals in true fresco and illusionistic ceiling paintings. As most of these large-scale projects have vanished, it is above all through his drawings that we can gain an idea of this aspect of his artistic personality. Bramer also made designs for tapestries and earthenware.

Preview Picture Data File Info Comment
The Curious Ones
1655-60
Bush and gray ink, gray and brown washes on light brown paper, 391 x 560 mm
Museum Kunstpalast, Düsseldorf

1213*850
True Color
190 Kb



Soldiers with Horses before a House
1655-60
Brush and gray ink, gray washes, 395 x 593 mm
Museum Kunstpalast, Düsseldorf

1092*770
Grayscale
133 Kb



Concert of Angels (recto)
1650-52
Brush and gray ink, brush and watercolour, 531 x 406 mm
British Museum, London

1123*900
True Color
189 Kb



Four Latin Fathers of the Church and Saints (verso)
1650-52
Brush and gray ink, brush and watercolour, 531 x 406 mm
British Museum, London

1138*900
Grayscale
191 Kb



Jacob's Dream
1657-59
Brush and gray ink, diameter 135 mm
Koninklijke Tichelaar, Makkum

511*500
Grayscale
40 Kb



The Temptation of Christ
1645-55
Brush abd gray ink, 94 x 109 mm
Hessisches Landesmuseum, Darmstadt

537*450
Grayscale
38 Kb



Design for a wall decoration
1645-50
Pen and wash, 180 x 216 mm
Nasjonalgalleriet, Oslo

802*700
Grayscale
97 Kb



Figures in a Loggia
c. 1660
Ink and wash, 315 x 395 mm
Victoria and Albert Museum, London

1020*854
Grayscale
156 Kb



The Betrayal of Christ
1637
Brush and black ink, gray and black wash, black chalk on prepared paper, 203 x 273 mm
Private collection

969*770
Grayscale
139 Kb



Anchias Fleeing Troy with His Father and Son
1657-59
Brush and gray and black ink, gray washes, 400 x 300 mm
Private collection

850*1162
True Color
179 Kb



Marcus Curtius Leaping into the Abyss on His Horse
1657-59
Brush and gray and black ink, gray washes, 400 x 300 mm
Private collection

850*1100
True Color
130 Kb



Musicians in an Interior
c. 1660
Brush and gray ink, gray washes , 372 x 463 mm
Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

1108*900
True Color
160 Kb



Joseph and Potiphar's Wife
1630s
Brush and black ink, dray wash on brownish gray paper, 400 x 310 mm
Courtauld Gallery, London

850*1244
True Color
178 Kb



The Trials of Job
1630s
Brush and black ink, dray wash on brownish gray paper, 400 x 310 mm
Courtauld Gallery, London

850*1059
True Color
150 Kb



Money Combats the World, the Flesh, and the Devil
1659
Brush and gray ink, gray wash, 195 x 150 mm
Staatliche Graphische Sammlung, Munich

600*774
Grayscale
105 Kb



Quevedo and the Skeletons of Juan de la Encina and King Perico
1659
Brush and gray ink, gray wash, 195 x 150 mm
Staatliche Graphische Sammlung, Munich

600*859
Grayscale
124 Kb



Quevedo Sees Chicotus in the Battle
1659
Brush and gray ink, gray wash, 195 x 150 mm
Staatliche Graphische Sammlung, Munich

600*864
Grayscale
115 Kb



Scenes from the Life of Christ
1660s
Watercolour and gouache, 125 x 110 mm
Private collection

449*550
True Color
53 Kb



Scenes from the Life of Christ
1660s
Watercolour and gouache, 125 x 110 mm
Private collection

471*550
True Color
52 Kb



Scene from the Metamorphoses
1660s
Watercolour and gouache on vellum, 140 x 195 mm
Private collection

832*600
True Color
81 Kb



Scene from the Metamorphoses
1660s
Watercolour and gouache on vellum, 140 x 195 mm
Private collection

829*600
True Color
77 Kb




Paintings by Leonaert Bramer
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