Unfortunately very little is known of the artist Petrus Aeneae, who was born in Franeker c.1650 and was active in Leeuwarden and Franeker. He is mainly known as a graphic artist who made several mezzotints of Franeker professors and several Royal members of the House of Oranje Nassau.[1][2]
Two paintings by the artist recorded and preserved in the collections of the Fries Museum, Leeuwarden and one in the Museum Martena, Franeker.[3][4][5].
The present recently discovered drawing depicts a three quarter length portrait of a thus far unknown distinguished gentleman, his right hand akimbo, wearing a luxurious dressing gown and a lace collar, with his left hand resting on a skull. On the right a column and curtain disclosing a see through, most probably on the garden of his country estate. The drawing is the only known drawing by the artist, signed and dated 29 February 1695. The composition perfectly fits in the style of mezzotints of the late 17th and early 18th century. Although our drawing is not indented for transfer, it may well have been the design for a print, though thus far unrecorded. Hollstein doesn't mention any prints after our drawing. Another possibility is the drawing was commissioned by a well-to-do noble who ordered a portrait of himself posing in his country estate. The distinguished gentleman is most probably a noble from (the close vicinity) Franeker or Leeuwarden.
[1] Piet Bakker, De Friese schilderkunst in de Gouden Eeuw.
Waanders Zwolle, Fries Museum Leeuwarden, 2008. p. 83, 167-168, 209 (as: Aeneae, Petrus).
[2] Benezit, Dictionary of Artists.
Gründ, 2006. p. 133.
[3] Petrus Aeneae, Portrait of a man, probably a member of the Van Cammingha Family.
Oil on canvas, 57.5 x 76.5 cm.
Fries Museum, Leeuwarden, inv. no. S01923
[4] Petrus Aeneae, Portrait of a man, probably a member of the Van Cammingha Family.
Oil on canvas, 57.0 x 77.5 cm.
Fries Museum, Leeuwarden, inv. no. S01922
[5] Petrus Aeneae, Portrait of Bernardus Fullenius (1640-1707).
Oil on canvas, 75 x 56.5 cm.
Museum Martena, Franeker, inv. no. 1895.
