Moses ter Borch

Moses ter Borch or Mozes ter Borch (1645–1667) was a Dutch painter, draughtsman and enlisted sailor in the Dutch navy. His surviving work consists mostly of drawings. He died in battle during one of the Dutch fleet's engagements in England during the Second Anglo-Dutch War.

Life Moses ter Borch was born in Zwolle as the youngest son of Gerard ter Borch the Elder (1583 – 1662) and Wiesken Matthys. His father had initially been a painter but had by the time of Moses's birth changed careers to become a convoy and license master in Zwolle, a function he inherited from his own father. His elder siblings included his half-brother, the prominent genre painter Gerard ter Borch (1617 – 1681), his half-sister amateur artist Anna ter Borch (1622 – 1679), his sister, the artist and poet Gesina ter Borch (1631 – 1690), and his brother, the artist Harmen ter Borch (1638 - 1677). He joined the Dutch fleet which during the Second Anglo-Dutch War sailed up the Thames to attack the English fleet. Moses was severely wounded on 2 July 1667 during the Battle of Landguard Fort. He received shots in the head and in the heart. He succumbed to his injuries 10 days later and was buried on a hill slope in Harwich.

Work Moses left a limited oeuvre as he died at a very young ago. Only a few paintings by his hand - all portraits - are known.

He showed a great talent in drawing. He drew a large number of self-portraits that bear a striking resemblance to Rembrandt's striking studies in physiognomy and human expression. In these portrait studies he was able to express various emotions and expressions ranging from cheerful, to surly and conceited to angry. He also portrayed his close family members in a tender manner. In the early 1660s he made a series of penetrating, individualised studies of boys and men in military dress. About 20 figure studies from this series are known today. These drawings are made in red or black chalk and depict single figures, who appear mostly to be young seamen who were likely his shipmates.

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