Pieter van Laer
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Pieter van Laer (or Laar) (1599 or earlier – c. 1642) was a Dutch painter of genre scenes, long active in Rome.
He was born at Haarlem in Holland. The influence of a long stay in Rome from 1625 is seen in his treatment of landscape and backgrounds, but in his subjects he remained true to the Dutch tradition, choosing generally lively scenes from peasant life. He painted markets, feasts, bowling scenes, farriers' shops, robbers, hunting scenes and peasants with cattle. From this taste, or from his personal deformity, he was nicknamed Il Bamboccio by the Italians. The painters influenced by his genre style were called the Bamboccianti, and included Andries Both and his brother Jan, Michelangelo Cerquozzi, the French Hugenot Nicholas Bourdon, and Jan Miel.
On his return to Holland about 1639, he lived chiefly at Amsterdam and Haarlem, in which latter city he died around 1642.
His pictures are marked by skilful composition and good drawing; he was especially careful in perspective. His colouring, according to Crowe, is "generally of a warm, brownish tone, sometimes very clear, but oftener heavy, and his execution broad and spirited." Certain etched plates are also attributed to him.
This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.
