The Bentvueghels

This exhibition told the remarkable story of artists from the Northern and Southern Netherlands who came together in Rome around 1620 to form the artists’ group known as the Bentvueghels. The group’s striking name reflects how its members saw themselves: as a flock of colourful birds. Through their rituals and customs, they parodied Italy’s two official ‘sacred cows’: the Roman Catholic Church and the Accademia di San Luca. These compatriots feasted and drank together, but what truly united them was the art of painting.

Like the great artists represented in the Centraal Museum’s collection—Van Baburen, Ter Brugghen and Honthorst—whose work could be admired in the exhibition Caravaggio, Utrecht and Europe, these painters were also inspired by their time in Rome. The Centraal Museum is therefore the most fitting place to tell this story of wanderlust, group identity, a love of Rome and, above all, what it means to be an artist. Whatever your background, wherever you come from and however old you are, everyone recognises the desire to belong to a group, explore the world and find inspiration.

Participating artists
Bartholomeus Appelman, alias HECTOR; Jan Asselijn, alias KRABBETJE; Jan van Bijlert, alias AENEAS; Abraham Bloemaert; Cornelis Bloemaert, alias WINTER; Paulus Bor, alias ORLANDO; Andries Both; Jan Both; Leonart Bramer, alias NESTELGHAT; Bartholomeus Breenbergh, alias FRET; Jan Gerritsz. van Bronchorst; Johan van Bronchorst; Abraham Brueghel, alias RYNGRAAF; Jan van Bunnick, alias KETELTROM; Michelangelo Cerquozzi; Wouter Crabeth (II), alias ALMANACK; Willem Doudijns, alias DIOMEDES; Pieter Antonisz. Groenewegen, alias LEEUW; Anton Goubau; Guilliam de Heusch; Jacob de Heusch, alias AFDRUK (COPIA); Adriaen Honich, alias LOSSENBRUY; Samuel van Hoogstraten, alias BATAVIER; Karel du Jardin, alias BOCKBAERT; Adriaen van der Kabel, alias GEESTIGHEID; Gerard van Kuijl, alias STIJGBEUGEL; Pieter van Laer, alias IL BAMBOCCIO; Roeland van Laer; Jan Linsen, alias HERMAFRODITO; Claude Lorrain, alias ORIZZONTE; Jan Miel, alias HONINGH-BIE; Hendrick Mommers, alias SLEMPOP; Paulus Moreelse; Crispijn de Passe; Cornelis van Poelenburch, alias SATYR; Matthijs Pool; Rembrandt van Rijn; Willem Schellinks, alias SPITS; Herman van Swanevelt, alias HEREMYT; Michael Sweerts; Pietro Testa; Wallerand Vaillant; Nicolaes Visscher; Jan Baptist Weenix, alias RATEL; Domenicus van Wijnen, alias ASCANIUS; Matthias Withoos, alias CALZETTA BIANCA; Caspar van Wittel, alias TOORTS.