Thomas De Keyser Portrait of a Woman Holding a Balance Painting ID:: 2154 Thomas De Keyser2.jpg
Portrait of a Woman Holding a Balance
Thomas De Keyser The Burgomasters of Amsterdam Gathered fro the Arrival of Queen Marie des Medicis of France Painting ID:: 30566 new4/Thomas De Keyser-679524.jpg
The Burgomasters of Amsterdam Gathered fro the Arrival of Queen Marie des Medicis of France mk68
Oil on wood
The Hague,Mauritshuis
1638
Netherlands
Thomas De Keyser Equestrian Portrait of Pieter Schout Painting ID:: 33693 new9/Thomas De Keyser-795762.jpg
Equestrian Portrait of Pieter Schout mk86
1660
Oil on copper
86x69.5
Amsterdam,Rijksmuseum
Thomas De Keyser Portrait of Constatijn Huygens and his clerk Painting ID:: 43157 new16/Thomas De Keyser-667446.jpg
Portrait of Constatijn Huygens and his clerk mk170
1627
oil on oak
92.4x69.3cm
Thomas De Keyser Portret of a man Painting ID:: 74778 new24/Thomas De Keyser-895463.jpg
Portret of a man 1626
Oil on panel
79 x 53 cm
cjr
Thomas De Keyser Portret of a man Painting ID:: 76264 new24/Thomas De Keyser-776875.jpg
Portret of a man Date 1626
Medium Oil on panel
Dimensions 79 x 53 cm
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Thomas De Keyser Netherlands Painting ID:: 77788 new24/Thomas De Keyser-578436.jpg
Netherlands 1849(1849)
Medium Oil on canvas
Dimensions 286 ?? 200 cm (112.6 ?? 78.7 in)
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Thomas De Keyser Pieter Schout Painting ID:: 83492 new24/Thomas De Keyser-397338.jpg
Pieter Schout 1660
Medium Oil on copper
Dimensions 86.1 x 69.6 cm (33.9 x 27.4 in)
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Thomas De Keyser The company of Captain Allaert Cloeck and Lieutenant Lucas Jacobsz Rotgans Painting ID:: 83576 new24/Thomas De Keyser-994455.jpg
The company of Captain Allaert Cloeck and Lieutenant Lucas Jacobsz Rotgans 1632
Medium Oil on canvas
Dimensions 220 x 351 cm (86.6 x 138.2 in)
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Thomas De Keyser Constantijn Huygens and his Clerk Painting ID:: 89152 new25/Thomas De Keyser-579976.jpg
Constantijn Huygens and his Clerk 1627(1627)
Medium oil on wood
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Thomas De Keyser A Lady Painting ID:: 89279 new25/Thomas De Keyser-457598.jpg
A Lady 1632(1632)
Medium oil on oak
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Thomas De Keyser The Orient and the Occident Painting ID:: 97025 new26/Thomas De Keyser-576976.jpg
The Orient and the Occident 1854(1854)
Medium oil on canvas
Dimensions 67.7 X 50.4 in
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Thomas De Keyser Portrait of a Woman Painting ID:: 98055 new26/Thomas De Keyser-348883.jpg
Portrait of a Woman oil on panel
Dimensions 137 x 108 cm
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Thomas De Keyser Portrait of a Man Painting ID:: 98282 new26/Thomas De Keyser-949537.jpg
Portrait of a Man 1632(1632)
Medium oil on panel
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1586-1667
Dutch
Thomas De Keyser Gallery
De Keyser excelled as a portrait painter, and was the most in-demand portrait painter in the Netherlands until the 1630s, when Rembrandt eclipsed him in popularity. Rembrandt was influenced by his work, and many of de Keyser's paintings were later falsely attributed to Rembrandt.
His portraiture is full of character and masterly in handling, and often distinguished by a rich golden glow of color and Rembrandtesque chiaroscuro. Some of his portraits are life-size, but the artist generally preferred to keep them on a considerably smaller scale, like the famous Four Amsterdam burgomasters assembled to receive Marie de Medici in 1638, now on display at the Mauritshuis museum in The Hague.
In addition to portraits, he also executed some historical and mythological pictures, such as the Theseus and Ariadne in the Amsterdam town hall, now the Royal Palace. De Keyser also worked as an architect. From 1662 until his death in 1667 he oversaw construction of the new Amsterdam town hall, now Royal Palace.
De Keyser was a son of the architect and sculptor Hendrik de Keyser. We have no definite knowledge of his training, and but scant information as to the course of his life. Aert Pietersz, Cornelis vander Voort, Werner van Valckert and Nicolas Elias are accredited by different authorities with having developed his talent.
In the 1640s, de Keyser received very few painting commissions, and was forced to seek income elsewhere. He owned a basalt business from 1640 until 1654, when he returned to painting.
The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam has the largest collection of paintings by de Keyser. His work can also be seen at the Louvre in Paris, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, the Hermitage in Saint Petersburg and the National Gallery in London, among others.
The Stedelijk Museum modern art museum in Amsterdam carries a statue of de Keyser on its facade. A street in Enschede is named for him.
A contemporary namesake of the painter was Thomas de Keyser (Utrecht, 1597-1651), an actor and nephew of Hendrick de Keyser.