Wouter Crabeth II

Wouter Pietersz. Crabeth II (1594 – c. 18 June 1644) was a Dutch painter and draughtsman known for his genre scenes, biblical subjects and occasional portraits. During a long-time residence in Italy his work was influenced by the style of Caravaggio and his followers, the so-called Caravaggisti.

Biography Wouter Crabeth was born in Gouda in 1594, the son of the writer and politician Pieter Woutersz. Crabeth and Maria de Jonge. He was named after his grandfather Wouter Crabeth I, a renowned stained glass artist. Crabeth probably trained with Cornelis Ketel, a native of Gouda who was a successful portrait painter in Amsterdam. It is possible that Crabeth was also a pupil of Abraham Bloemaert in Utrecht.

In addition to altarpieces, Crabeth also painted genre scenes with card players, musicians and shepherds, which are very close in style to the works of Caravaggio and his followers. These paintings were mostly painted after his return to Gouda. Only a small number of these works remain.

Wouter Crabeth's pupils include Jan Ariens Duif, Dirk de Vrije, Jan Govertsz Verbijl, Jan Verzijl and Aert Van Waes. The Drinker (attributed; present location unknown, sold on 11 March 1999 by Marc-Arthur Kohn of Paris). Music Making Company. c. 1635, (Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest). The Conversion of William X, Duke of Aquitaine by Bernard de Clairvaux (Bernardus van Clairvaux bekeert Willem van Aquitanië, 1641 (Museum Gouda). Couple playing the flute (Koninklijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten, Antwerp). The dying warrior (Stervende krijgsman) (private collection). Music Making Company, c. 1635, Museum of Fine Arts, Budapest The card players (Muzeum Narodowe, Warsaw). The card players (place of conservation unknown, sold at auction 17 January 1992 by Sotheby's in New York). The officers of Gouda's four civil militia ensigns, led by Col. Herman Herbertsz., 1644 (Museum het Catharina Gasthuis Gouda). Entombment of Christ, probably destroyed in 1945 (last seen in the Kaiser-Friedrich-Museum, Berlin). The Wedding at Cana (De Bruiloft te Kana), painted 1640 (Museum het Catharina Gasthuis Gouda). Doubting Thomas (Ongelovige Thomas), around 1628 (Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam – loaned to the Museum Gouda). The Cardsharps (Gemäldegalerie, Berlin).