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Paulus Potter 006. Photo courtesy of Paulus Potter.

Top 10 Intriguing Facts about Paulus Potter

Paulus Potter was a precocious artist born at Enkhuizen. He was born in 1625 and died in 1654 at the age of 29 years. His real birth date is not well known but he was baptized on 20^th November 1625.

He came from a family of artists. He was the descendant of Pieret Simonz Potter who lived between1600 – 1652 and his mother Aaltje Paulusdr Bartsius. Unfortunately, his mother died while he was young.  He had two siblings, Pieter II and Maria.

The family moved to Amsterdam in 1631 where he studied painting. Their family lived with other artists of the time in their home as they opened their home to craftsmen and artists. This saw Paulus Potter being raised in the hands of many people than just his parents.

He was a decollated and famous Dutch painter in the seventeenth century.

Below are the top 10 intriguing facts about Paulus Potter

1. Paulus Potter was Trained by his Father

 Paulus Potter began painting at a very young age. He was probably aged fifteen years of age when he began painting. The passion developed from the environment within since he grew up surrounded by artists.

He was taught painting by his father and the whole group of craftsmen and artists. He, however, learned quickly and developed a style of his own.

It has also been suggested by other historians that Potter was trained under artist Jacob de Wet who is said to be a family friend of the potter family.

2. He began his Career as a Painter Around the 1640s

Paulus Potter Bauernfamilie m Vieh. Painted by Paulus Potter.

Paulus Potter began his painting career at the age of 15 which was a very young age. However, having been born and raised in a family of artists it was easy for him to catch up with the style of the family.

He worked out of Amsterdam for some years before he moved to Southern Holland in the mid – 1646’s. During his stay in Southern Holland, he joined a painter’s guild known as the Guild of St. Luke.

He made some of his best paintings while at this place. Some of his famous paintings from this place include The Young Bull, Figures with Horses by a Stable, and Two pigs in a Sty.

3. He Became Famous from his Unique Style of Work on Animals

Potter Paulus Cows near a Farm. Authored by Potter Paulus.

Paulus Potter gained popularity from his unique style of work on animals. In all his works, animals are found in the painting, sometimes singing, while others are in groups with a rustic landscape.

He became the first established painter whose works on animals were depicted as the main subject while the landscapes and human figures were relegated to a secondary position.

Among his most celebrated works of animals was ‘The Young Bull’. However, critics have it that ‘Orpheus Charming the Beasts’ is aesthetically more fulfilling.

4. He Moved to Delft City after Painting in Amsterdam for Six years

Paulus Potter moved to Delft city in 1646 after painting in Amsterdam for about six years.

He continued his painting career while in Delft where he entered the Guild of St. Luke.  This was a guild for artists including painters who were named after the patron saint of the artist, St Luke. While at the city, he was able to reach his peak in 1647.

5. Paulus Potter Moved from Delft and Settled in Hague

In 1649, Paulus Potter moved from Delft and settled in Hague. He lived in the house of Jan Van Goyen, a very well-known artist in the era. It was at this place where he met architect Claes Van Balkeneynde, a city’s leading building contractor, and he married his daughter.

After the wedding, he introduced him to some of the Dutch elites who were particularly interested in his talents.

6. Paulus Potter Took on a Job as a Court Painter

Painted by Paulus Potter.

Paulus Potter took on a job as the court painter in 1650. Some of the paintings he worked on were the Regent of Orange-Nassau and Amalia of Solms-Braunfels.

He also painted a cow urinating which was not as classy as the people in the court expected. This caused Paulus Potter to be fired from his job as a court painter.

7. He was Sued by the Royal Court

Paulus Potter – The Pissing Cow. Photo authored by Paulus Potter.

Paulus Potter found himself in trouble in court in 1651. This was a result of the painting where he created a painting with a pissing cow for Amalia of Solms-Braunfels. The paintings offended the court ladies.

They believed that Paulus Potter did not fulfill his obligation as the court painter. He was fired and the court sued him for failure to fulfill his obligations.

8. Paulus Potter Moved back to Amsterdam in 1652

After finding trouble with the court, Paulus Potter moved back to Amsterdam in 1652. He was invited to get back to Amsterdam by the city mayor who was known as Nicolaes Tulp.

He returned to Amsterdam by May 1652. He was loved by many art lovers who recognized his magnificent work.

9. He was Commissioned to Paint a Portrait of Nicholas’s Son Diederik Tulp

Paulus Potter had made a name from his sensational work of art. He was commissioned to paint a portrait of Nicholas’s son Diederik Tulp in 1653.

He made the painting showing Diederik riding a horse. However, it was said that Potter used an old painting where he changed the face of the rider and gave it Diederik’s portrait.

10. Paulus Potter died of Tuberculosis

Paulus Potter died on the 17^th of January 1654. He developed tuberculosis while working in Amsterdam and died at the age of twenty-eight. He was buried in the Nieuwezijdskapel.

However, he had produced more than one hundred pieces of work. He accorded animals a very important position in his work and was the first artist to demonstrate them as a subject in their own right. He left behind his windowed wife Adriana whom he married at the age of twenty-five years.

Paulus Potter was a renowned artist who made his name famous from his unique style of using animals. Although he died at a young age, his works are sensational to date.