Abraham van Beijeren

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Abraham Hendriksz van Beijeren (ca. 1620 The Hague - March 1690 Rotterdam) was a Dutch Baroque era painter. He was little regarded in his day but is now considered one of the greatest of still-life painters.

Van Beijeren (alternatively spelled "Beyeren") lived in a succession of Dutch towns. Born in The Hague, the artist also lived in Delft, Amsterdam, Alkmaar and Gouda. In 1678 he settled in Rotterdam, where he died in 1690.

[edit] Signature

Unfortunately Van Beijeren signed his canvases with the monogram AVB and invariably failed to include a date. As a result it has been difficult to compile a chronology of his works.

[edit] Artistic style

While in the 1640s most of his paintings were seascapes, Van Beijeren began to develop as a skilled still life painter of fish. In the 1650s and 1660s he focused on still lifes with fine silverware, Chinese porcelain, glass and selections of fruit. He also painted a number of floral still life paintings.