Adriaen Lievensz Van Der Poel

Born on October 29, 1628, in Delft, Adriaen Lievensz. van der Poel was a native of Delft in the Netherlands. His father, Lieven van der Poel, a goldsmith by trade, had forged valuable connections with renowned artists such as Jacob van Geel and Pieter van Bronckhorst. These influences likely shaped Adriaen’s creative journey.

Inspired by his older brother, Egbert, as well as by masters like Hendrick de Meijer, Adriaen embarked on an artistic path that combined winter landscapes with scenes of everyday life. His works, often imbued with realism and depth, reveal meticulous attention to detail.

In 1658, a turning point in his career led him to Leiden, where he became a member of the local guild. His presence in the archives of the Confrerie Pictura in The Hague in 1670 attests to his engagement in the artistic community of his time.

The year 1654 remains etched in his memory, marked by the devastating explosion of the Delft arsenal. This tragic event, a witness to a city engulfed in flames, inspired a series of works that blend shadows and light, nocturnes and bonfires, revealing an artist in search of capturing the duality of life.

Adriaen Lievensz. van der Poel, whose life likely came to an end in 1685, left behind an artistic legacy that is now preserved in prestigious museums such as the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, the National Gallery in London, and the Louvre in Paris, continuing to amaze and inspire.