Pieter Barbiers I was an apprentice of his father Anthony Barbiers (Rousselaere, 1676-Amsterdam, 1726) after which he taught himself without any further apprenticeship. In his early years he painted fans. On 16 May 1737 he married Pieternella de Maagd (1716-1779) and the couple had many children amongst who were Bartholomeus Barbiers (1743-1808) and Pieter Barbiers (1749-1842).
Pieter Barbiers opened a wallpaper factory and also workd for theaters in The Hague, Leiden, Rotterdam and Amsterdam as a decorative painter and gave lessons as well. Only one engraving by Pieter is known; an old man wearing a fur hat, dated 1766.
He was the teacher of B. Barbiers Pietersz. (I), B. Barbiers Pieter Pzn (II), P. Barbiers Pzn (II), J. Hulswit and J. Kamphuysen.
Our drawing shows a herring seller by night, with a most catchy atmosphere, the only source of light being his lantern.
Several drawings and the single engraving by Barbiers in the collection Rijksmuseum Amsterdam.[1][2][3] (images 1, 2 and 3)
[1] Pieter Barbiers, Ontwerp voor een toneeldecor van een zuilengalerij met loggia (Design for a stage of a gallery of columns with loggia). Pen and grey ink, pencil, watercolour, 175 x 280 mm. Rijksmuseum Amsterdam, inv. no. RP-T-1909-13.
[2] Pieter Barbiers, Ontwerp voor een toneeldecor van een interieur (Design for a stage of an interior). Pen and grey ink, pencil, watercolour, 175 x 280 mm. Rijksmuseum Amsterdam, inv. no. RP-T-1909-15.
[3] Pieter Barbiers I, Oude man met bontmuts en handen rustend op een stok (old man with fur hat, hands resting on a stick). Etching, 94 x 88 mm. Rijksmuseum Amsterdam, inv. no. RP-P-1882-A-5949.
