Baptized on 12 May 1662 in Antwerp, Jan Frans van Bloemen established himself as a central figure in Roman landscape painting throughout the late 17th and early 18th centuries. Known to his peers by the nickname Orizzonte, he dedicated his career to refining the classical landscape aesthetic while remaining active in the city for over sixty years.
Early Training and Migration
Born in the Habsburg Netherlands, Van Bloemen received his initial artistic training from his brother, Pieter van Bloemen, and later studied under Anton Goubau in Antwerp between 1681 and 1684. His early career involved travel through Paris and Lyon, where he potentially encountered Adriaen van der Kabel. By 1688, he had settled in Rome, residing in the parish of Sant’Andrea delle Fratte alongside his brothers Pieter and later Norbert van Bloemen.
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Van Bloemen joined the Bentvueghels, an association of Dutch and Flemish artists in Rome, where he adopted the name Orizzonte, referencing the expansive distances within his landscape compositions. Despite his local success and commissions from patrons including the Queen of Spain, Elizabeth Farnese, the Roman nobility, and the Pope, institutional recognition proved elusive. He did not gain admission to the Accademia di San Luca until after his 70th birthday, likely due to a prevailing academic bias against landscape painting as a primary pursuit.
Artistic Style and Technique
His work drew inspiration from the classical landscape tradition, particularly the styles of Claude Lorrain and Gaspard Dughet. Van Bloemen specialized in vedute that blended reality with imaginary elements, often focusing on the immediate Roman Campagna. His technique involved a recession of planes and delicate, spirited brushwork known as pittura di tocco. While he frequently collaborated with figure specialists such as Placido Costanzi, Carlo Maratti, and Pompeo Batoni, he also possessed significant skill as a staffage painter, frequently creating his own foreground figures.
Estate Views and Commissions
A notable portion of his output consisted of estate views for the Roman nobility, which sought to merge modern property depiction with the arcadian aesthetic. These works prioritized minute observation rather than wide topographical panoramas. Throughout his life, Van Bloemen continued to travel, undertaking trips to Naples, Sicily, and Malta alongside his brother Pieter, though he remained permanently rooted in Rome until his death in 1749.
Fast facts
- Born: 1662, Antwerp
- Died: 1749, Rome
- Movement: Flemish Baroque painting
- Nickname: Orizzonte
- Notable works: Italian Park, Landscape with a Monastery
- Citizenship: Habsburg Netherlands
- Associated artists: Placido Costanzi, Carlo Maratti, Pompeo Batoni
Questions readers ask
Why did it take so long for Van Bloemen to join the Accademia di San Luca?
He was over 70 when admitted, likely due to the Roman establishment's general disregard for landscape painting as a display of technical mastery.
What does the nickname Orizzonte refer to?
It was a name he used within the Bentvueghels, referring to the distance he depicted in his landscape paintings.
Achievements
- Notable work: Italian Park
- Notable work: Landscape with a Monastery
- Movement: Flemish Baroque painting
