Scope and Contents
The drawings by D.P.G. Humbert de Superville in the Collection Cremer van den Berch van Heemstede all belong to the artist’s later work, when he was working on religious compositions, inspired by Raphael’s Loggie: The First Day of the Creation, Adam and Eve being expelled from Paradise, the Flood, Abraham, Joseph imprisoned, Moses, The Temptation of Christ and Christ on the Cross. The collection includes copies after Raphael and other painters. Besides these drawings, the donation incorporates a sketchbook with drawings after the antique (PK-T-1341), a few volumes of prints, like Annibale Carracci’s Le arti di Bologna, and some art theoretical treatises.
Dates
- 1820-1849
Conditions Governing Use
Regulations that apply during the use of these materials can be found on the website of Leiden University Library.
Biographical / Historical
Isaac Lambertus Cremer van den Berch van Heemstede was born in Zaltbommel in 1811. He is known mainly as a member of parliament and other legislative institutions. However, he was also an amateur artist – among other things he made etchings after (supposed) compositions by Rembrandt – with a vivid interest in the arts. He probably received some training from Humbert de Superville, the director of the Leiden Print Room, but was essentially a self-taught artist. No details of his relation to Humbert are known but he managed to acquire a group of important drawings, possibly in the role of maecenas to the artist. Cremer van den Berch van Heemstede died in 1879 in The Hague.
Extent
66 drawings and one sketchbook by D.P.G. Humbert de Superville, besides a few books.
Language of Materials
Undetermined
Abstract
Kleine maar belangrijke groep tekeningen van de Nederlandse kunstenaar D.P.G. Humbert de Superville (1770-1849).
Abstract
Small but important collection of drawings by the Dutch artist D.P.G. Humbert de Superville (1770-1849).
Physical Location
Leiden University Library, Special Collections
Other Finding Aids
There exists no separate inventory of the Collection Cremer van den Berch van Heemstede. A handlist, made up during the time of the donation, is kept in the Archives of the Print Room, available upon request. All drawings are entered in Digital Collections, the books in the online catalogue, but their provenance is not recognizable.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Most of the drawings and books were deposited at the Print Room in 1867, at first as a loan, later as a gift. An additional set of drawings was donated three years later.
Accruals
No additions are to be expected.
Separated Materials
A group of manuscripts by Humbert is in the Royal Library in The Hague as a loan from the KNAW. Early drawings, made during his stay in Italy, are kept in the Galleria dell’Accademia in Venice. Smaller ensembles can be found in other museums, notably in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, where drawings by Humbert are part of a donation of the family Van Bemmelen, with whom Humbert was befriended.
Bibliography
- Biesboer, P., D. P. G. Humbert de Superville, 1770-1849, kunstenaar-geleerde. Delft 1975. [exhibition catalogue Stedelijk museum Het Prinsenhof, 1975].
- Bodel Nijenhuis, J.T.,
Levensberigt
, in: Handelingen der jaarlijksche algemeene vergadering der Maatschappij van Nederlandsche Letterkunde te Leiden, 21 juni, 1849, p. 129-144. - Schaeps, J.,
A handlist of D.P.G. Humbert de Superville’s paintings, drawings, prints, books, manuscripts and of documents and letters concerning him
, in: J. Bolten (ed.), Miscellanea Humbert de Superville, Leiden 1997, p. 127-250.
General
The drawings in this collection can be requested at the Special Collections Reading Room. The printed books can be requested in the online catalogue.
Processing Information
The drawings have been integrated into the general collections of drawings; the books are part of the library’s holdings.
- Title
- Collection guide of the Isaac Lambertus Cremer van den Berch van Heemstede collection (1820-1849)
- Subtitle
- Collectie Isaac Lambertus Cremer van den Berch van Heemstede
- Author
- Jef Schaeps, 2011
- Date
- 2011
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- Beschrijving is in het Engels.
Repository Details
Part of the Leiden University Libraries Archives & Collections Repository
Witte Singel 27
Leiden 2311 BG Netherlands
+31 71 527 2857
specialcollections@library.leidenuniv.nl