Isrâels, JOSEF

Isrâels, JOSEF, genre-painter, was born at Groningen in 1824. He studied at Amsterdam under Pieneman and Kruseman, and in Paris under Picot and Henri Scheffer. In 1855 his 'William, Prince of Orange, opposing the Decree of the King of Spain' attracted attention in the Exposition Universelle. But this work was almost the only effort of the painter in the direction of historical art; for he soon turned to scenes from humble life, and settling at Katwijk near Leyden he devoted himself to the portrayal of the fisher-folk, sending to the Salon of 1857 his 'Children of the Sea' and his 'Evening on the Shore.' In 1867 his celebrated 'Interior of the Orphan Asylum at Katwijk' gained for him a third-class medal and the ribbon of the Legion of Honour; and eight years later he was awarded the cross and a first-class medal. More recently he has resided at The Hague, working indefatigably, and producing a long series of genre-pictures in oils and water-colours, presenting, usually in its pathetic aspects, the life of the humbler classes of Holland. At first his work was somewhat violent in colour, but gradually it has become subdued, harmonious, and lovely; his management of the restricted tonality which he has adopted shows the most accomplished artistic skill; and his handling is large, vigorous, and unlaboured. Among his chief pictures may be named 'The Sewing-school at Katwijk' (1881), 'Silent Company' (1882), 'Fine Weather' (1883), and 'The Struggle for Life' (1883). He is also favourably known as an etcher by 'Old Mary,' 'The Cradle,' 'The Mother,' 'The Fisherman,' and other plates very simple, direct, and painter-like in their method. See a monograph by Netscher, with etchings by Steelink (French trans. by Zilcken, Amsterdam).