Construction of the Huis Bartolotti on the Herengracht canal in Amsterdam began under the supervision of Pieter de Keyser in approximately 1617. As an architect, painter, and sculptor, he maintained a significant presence in the Dutch Golden Age, eventually succeeding his father, Hendrick de Keyser, to shape the structural landscape of his home city.
Succession and Municipal Commissions
Upon his father's death in 1621, de Keyser assumed the role of master mason, or stadssteenhouwer, for Amsterdam. This position required him to finalize several major projects already in progress, including the Westerkerk and the Noorderkerk. Beyond these churches, he completed the Huis met de Hoofden on the Keizersgracht and handled unfinished commissions such as the statue of Erasmus in Rotterdam and the mausoleum for William the Silent in the Nieuwe Kerk in Delft.
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Beyond his duties as a successor, de Keyser developed his own portfolio of municipal buildings. He oversaw the construction of the Saaihal in 1641 and designed the gallery and boys' school for the Burgerweeshuis, now recognized as the Amsterdam Museum. Historians also debate his potential role in the Accijnshuis, a building traditionally attributed to Jacob van Campen but potentially authored by de Keyser instead.
Sculptural Contributions
De Keyser maintained a parallel career as a sculptor, creating various mausoleums for prominent figures. These included the naval commander Piet Hein in the Oude Kerk of Delft, stadholder William Louis of Nassau-Dillenburg in Leeuwarden, Adriaan Pauw at the Reformed Church in Heemstede, and the Swedish commander Erik Soop in the Skara cathedral in Sweden. His expertise in materials extended to trade, as he dealt in marble and acquired his brother Willem's stone business in 1654.
Fast facts
- Born: 1595, Amsterdam
- Died: 1676, Amsterdam
- Occupations: Architect, painter, sculptor
- Primary work locations: Amsterdam, Delft, Rotterdam
- Marriages: Magdalena Geens (1623), Magdalena Jacobs (1625), Catharina Beghin (1639)
- Professional successor to: Hendrick de Keyser
Questions readers ask
Did Pieter de Keyser work alone?
He frequently collaborated with or succeeded his father, Hendrick, and later acquired the stone business of his brother, Willem.
What is his most famous building?
He is noted for overseeing the Huis Bartolotti and completing the Westerkerk and Noorderkerk in Amsterdam.
