A gilded statue of Fortuna stands at the center. We are here to discuss the Troost Statue. It embodies the spirit and artistry of Cornelis Troost.
Cornelis Troost was a prominent Dutch painter and actor from Amsterdam. He lived from 1696 to 1750. Though initially an actor, Troost later became a student of Arnold Boonen. He traded the stage for the canvas in 1723.
Troost gained renown for depicting Amsterdam Theatre scenes. He also captured the daily lives of Amsterdam’s upper class. His works offer a glimpse into the 18th-century Dutch society. They show its manners and French influences.
One of his early drawings, dating back to 1708, portrays Prince Eugene of Savoy. It also depicts the bookseller Louis Renard. They are visiting an Amsterdam brothel. This piece hints at Troost’s keen eye for detail and social commentary.
His success grew with a group portrait of the Amsterdam Inspectors of the Collegium Medicum. This painting now resides in the Rijksmuseum. Troost also painted portraits of notable figures. Herman Boerhaave, a famous doctor from Leiden, was among them.
Troost’s paintings often featured actors in famous roles. His Rococo genre scenes are witty and elegant. He may have been influenced by William Hogarth. French artists like Watteau, Boucher, and Lancret also inspired him.
His 1736 painting, Jeronimus Tonneman and his Son, depicts an art collector. Tonneman is seated in his parlour on the Keizersgracht. The book on the table is assumed to be by Karel van Mander. Argus and Mercury are visible on the chimney breast. Troost himself lived nearby, on the banks of the Amstel and at Prinsengracht.
A famous pastel and watercolor work is his five-picture series entitled NELRI. It is housed in the Mauritshuis. The Hague is its home. The name NELRI comes from the first letters of Latin inscriptions. They accompany five views of a group of men during a night of reunion.
The inscriptions on the NELRI paintings are thought-provoking. “Nemo loquebantur” translates to “No one spoke.” “Erat sermo inter fratres” means “The brothers conversed.” “Loquebantur omnes” signifies “Everyone spoke.” “Rumor erat in casa” means “There was commotion in the house.” “Ibant qui poterant, qui non potuere cadebant” translates to “Those who could, went. Those who could not, fell over.”
Troost had many pupils. Jacobus Buys, Noël Challe, and Pieter Tanjé were among them. His own daughter, Sara Troost, also learned from him. He had five daughters, all trained in the arts. Only Sara had works engraved by other artists. She married the printer Jacob Ploos van Amstel. Another daughter, Elisabeth, married his brother. He was the Amsterdam painter Cornelis Ploos van Amstel. A famous descendant is Paul Ludwig Troost. He was a leading architect of Adolf Hitler.
Troost’s works can be found in various public collections. These include the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam and the Mauritshuis in The Hague. His art captures moments of daily life. It provides insight into the culture of his time. The Troost Statue before us stands as a testament to his contribution. It is a reminder of his enduring impact on Dutch art. It embodies the spirit of Amsterdam’s artistic heritage.