Adam Silo

The Amsterdams Historisch Museum has the only dated painting by Silo, showing a fleet of whalers off Amsterdam: Het IJ met een vloot walvisvaarders gezien vanaf het bolwerk Blauwhoofd (1729). Silo was born in Amsterdam on Christmas Day, 1674. At the age of 21, when he married, he was making gold thread and also worked as a ship's carpenter. He later worked, until the age of 30, as a master ship's builder and sea captain. Around 1694, he became a pupil of the artist Theodor van Pee (c. 1668–1746) and learned to paint. In 1697, he gave instruction in the drawing of ships to Peter the Great, who was visiting Amsterdam at the time. Notes made by the tsar during these lessons have survived. Peter the Great also purchased some of Silo's paintings. Silo produced not only paintings but also prints and drawings, which also exclusively depicted maritime scenes. Over 20 etchings by Silo are known. He also experimented with the mezzotint technique. In his later years, he worked as an instrument builder, making musical instruments, binoculars, magnifying glasses, and telescopes, among others. He also produced wax models. Silo wrote a number of books, including Afteekeningen van verscheidene soorten en charters van schepen en andere vaartuigen ("Drawings of various types of ships and other vessels", 1757). He died in Amsterdam in 1760 at the age of 85 and was buried on 8 October 1760 at the Leidse Kerkhof cemetery in Amsterdam.

Training under Theodor van Pee is recorded. Places of work recorded in the authority are Amsterdam. Works named in the authority record are Admiraalzeilen. Work by Adam Silo is recorded in the collections of Amsterdam Museum, Statens Museum for Kunst, Hermitage Museum, Yale Center for British Art and Kunsthistorisches Museum.

Adam Silo is recorded as painter, instrument maker, technician, etcher and metalsmith.