Figure Drawing: Abraham Bloemaert

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Abraham Bloemaert - Drawing Book

Abraham Bloemaert was a 16th Century Dutch mannerist painter and printmaker.

One of his projects was an instruction book which consisted of 173 plates including some which were duplicates that were hand sepia colored.

A copy of Oorspronkelyk en Vermaard Konstryk Tekenboek van Abraham Bloemaart is available at Abebooks.com

Here is a description from the seller:

Ottens edition, printed from the original plates mostly engraved by Frederik Bloemaart ca. 1650, of Abraham Bloemaart's classic engraved drawing book, first published by the artist himself ca. 1650 as Artis Apellae liber with only 100 or 120 plates. The first two parts show mostly detail drawings of heads, hands, arms, feet, legs, etc., in a wide variety of positions and covering males and females of all ages. Parts 3 and 4 show mostly full figures, both nude and in a variety of clothing, part 5 shows only putti, part 6 mostly full figures, part 7 completed scenes and part 8 animals. The drawings were intended as models for students or apprentices in art or engraving.

Oorspronkelyk en Vermaard Konstryk Tekenboek van Abraham Bloemaart at Abebooks.com.

Biography from the Getty Museum.

Another biography from Mystudios.com.