Adam Willaerts

Abraham Willaerts is recorded as having studied under Adam Willaerts. The recorded working language is Dutch. Subjects and genres recorded for the work are history and marine. Places of work recorded in the authority are Leiden, Utrecht and Amsterdam. Works named in the authority record are The defeat of the Spanish at Gibraltar by a Dutch fleet under command of Admiral Jacob van Heemskerck, 25 April 1607, Ships off the coast and Ships off a rocky coast. Work by Adam Willaerts is recorded in the collections of Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Museo del Prado, The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Nationalmuseum and Royal Museums Greenwich.

Willaerts (occasionally Willarts, Willers) was born in London to Flemish parents who had fled from Antwerp for religious reasons. By 1585 the family lived in Leiden. From 1597 until his death, Adam lived and worked in Utrecht. He became a member of the Utrecht Guild of St. Luke in 1611 and subsequently became its dean in 1620. His sons Cornelis, Abraham, and Isaac followed in his footsteps. He was known as a painter of river and canal pieces, coastal landscapes, fish-markets, processions, and genre scenes. He also painted villages and marine battle scenes. His best known work is a contemporary depiction of the Pilgrims leaving Delftshaven aboard the Speedwell. His Allegory of the victory of the Dutch on the Spanish fleet in Gibraltar is in the Rijksmuseum.

• Illustration — The Pilgrims leaving Delfshaven, 1620. • Illustration — Harbour scene, circa 1615. • Illustration — The defeat of the Spaniards at Gibraltar by a Dutch fleet under command of Admiral Jacob van Heemskerck, 1617. • Illustration — Shipwrecked on a stormy sea, 1636

The authorities additionally record the headings Adam Willarts, Adam Willars, Adam Villars, Adam Weelars and Adam Willers. His recorded language was Dutch. His recorded confession was Reformed Christianity. 3 children are recorded: Cornelis Adamsz Willaerts, Abraham Willaerts and Isaac Willaerts.

Works recorded as notable number 3: The defeat of the Spanish at Gibraltar by a Dutch fleet under command of Admiral Jacob van Heemskerck, 25 April 1607, Ships off the coast and Ships off a rocky coast. His recorded genres are history and marine.