Gerrit de Hooch

Who was Gerrit de Hooch?

Gerrit de Hooch was a 17th-century Dutch painter of italianate landscapes, who lived and worked in The Hague.

He was a member of the local guild of artists, the Confrerie Pictura since 1660. Born as a son of local bailiff Eliseus de Hoog and Josina van Platen, who married in 1629 in The Hague. Gerrit's wife, Anna van Eyck, is recorded widow in 1680. Anna's father was Hermanus van Eyck, who had the great philosopher Daniel Heinsius as an uncle and tutor. Gerrit himself is related to the portrait painter Dirck Cornelis de Hooch, who was his father's brother. Gerrit's son Eliseus de Hooch was a painter, too and an engraver in silver. Eliseus worked and lived in The Hague and Rotterdam. Gerrit's daughter Josyanna Maria de Hooch married the painter Frederick Bernaerts, who lived and worked in The Hague. It is likely that Gerrit is related to the engraver Cornelis de Hooghe, who claimed to be one of Emperor Charles V's bastard sons and was executed for conspiracy in 1583. One or two works by Gerrit the Hooch are known today, but their attribution is dubious. Relation to the famous painter Pieter de Hooch or to the engraver Romeyn de Hooghe are highly unlikely.