Figure Group

Nicaise de Keyser prints bring the drama of Belgian Romantic history painting into your home: knights at the Battle of the Golden Spurs, Milton dictating Paradise Lost, Raphael with La Fornarina, and the great artists of old Antwerp. De Keyser was one of the leading figures of the Belgian Romantic school and director of the Antwerp Academy. Our collection of fine art prints includes his history scenes, portraits and studies.

About Nicaise de Keyser

Nicaise de Keyser was born on 26 August 1813 in Zandvliet, near Antwerp, the son of a farmer. As a boy he drew the cows and sheep he looked after, passing ships and the polder landscape. The Antwerp painter Joseph Jacops noticed his talent and made sure he could study at the Antwerp Academy, where he trained under Jacob Jacobs and Mattheus Ignatius van Bree.

His breakthrough came with the Battle of the Golden Spurs, shown at the Brussels Salon in 1836; it is said to have inspired Hendrik Conscience to write The Lion of Flanders. He travelled to England, Scotland, Paris and Italy, married the genre painter Isabella Telghuys in 1840, and painted portraits for royal and noble families across Europe.

In 1855 he succeeded Gustave Wappers as director of the Antwerp Academy and held the post until 1879. From 1862 to 1874 he painted a cycle celebrating the Antwerp school of art, now in the stairwell of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp. His many students included George du Maurier and Charles Verlat. He died in Antwerp in July 1887.

Style and Subjects

De Keyser painted history the Romantic way: crowded, theatrical scenes from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, with rich costumes, armour and banners. His colour is warm and polished, and his figures are posed for maximum drama.

He loved stories about artists and writers: Raphael with his beloved, Memling at the hospital in Bruges, Milton dictating to his daughters, Tasso visiting his sister. His portraits are elegant and smooth, made for courts and noble families.

Famous Works

• The Battle of the Golden Spurs (1836), Brussels Salon. His breakthrough, a scene from the Flemish victory over France in 1302.
• The Battle of Worringen. A medieval battle of 1288, painted after his success with the Golden Spurs.
• The Battle of Seneffe (1850), Hermitage Museum, St Petersburg. A crowded battle scene now in Russia.
• The Poet John Milton Dictates Paradise Lost to his Daughters. The blind poet at work with his daughters.
• The Painter Raphael and La Fornarina. Raphael with the woman who inspired him.
• Maximilian I and Mary of Burgundy Visiting the Painter Hans Memling. A scene from art history, in the spirit of his Antwerp school cycle.
• The Antiquary, Kirklees Museums and Galleries. A scholar among his treasures.

Decorating with De Keyser Prints

De Keyser's history scenes suit formal rooms with traditional furniture: a dining room, library or stairwell, in gilt or dark wood frames. Their warm colours and rich costumes look best against deep red, green or panelled walls.

His scenes of artists and writers, such as Milton or Raphael, make a fitting choice for a study, studio or reading room, while his portraits and quieter studies suit a hallway or bedroom.

FAQ

Who was Nicaise de Keyser?

Nicaise de Keyser (1813–1887) was a Belgian painter of history scenes and portraits and one of the key figures of the Belgian Romantic school.

What is his most famous painting?

The Battle of the Golden Spurs, shown in Brussels in 1836, made his name. It shows the Flemish victory over the French in 1302.

Where can I see his work?

His cycle on the Antwerp school is in the stairwell of the Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp, and other works are in the Hermitage, the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Royal Collection.

Who did he teach?

As director of the Antwerp Academy he taught many artists, including George du Maurier, Charles Verlat, Ferdinand Pauwels and Jan Verhas.

Was he famous in his lifetime?

Very. He was especially admired in German-speaking Europe and received the Prussian order Pour le Mérite in 1873, though his work was largely forgotten in the twentieth century.

Related Artists

• Louis Gallait: fellow leader of Belgian Romantic history painting
• Charles Verlat: his student at the Antwerp Academy
• George du Maurier: studied under him in Antwerp
• Ernest Slingeneyer: Belgian Romantic history painter of the same group