The Mermaid of Holland.

More paintings.

The story of the Mermaid of Holland told in a series of realistic paintings.

The phenomenon of the Mermaid of Holland inspired me to create a series of paintings that tell the complete story. I made them in a seventeenth century style because the story was at its peak at that time. The works are painted very precisely, all have a clear emotional charge and are full of nice details. The technique in which the paintings are made is a so-called glazing technique in which layer upon layer is applied to an underpainting.

Paintings the Mermaid of Holland.

Through a hole in the dike, on a tidal wave, she drifted into the lake.

1. The dike breach of 1403. Oilpaint on panel.120 x 100 cm. All rights reserved

Two milkmaids hoisted her aboard their boat.

2. The  miraculous catch. Oilpaint on panel.110 x 70 cm. All rights reserved

She had to be scrubbed clean cause she was covered in green dirt.

3. The Cleaning in Edam. 70 x 100 cm. Oilpaint on panel. All rights reserved.

People were jealous and wanted to posses her too, so she was extradited

4. The Extradition to the big city. 120 x 80 cm.  Oil paint on panel. All rights reserved.

With a great display of power she was brought into the city .

5. The triumphal entry. 110 x 150cm. Oil paint on panel. All rights reserved.

(Haarlem is Frans Hals city. The painting contains 21 figures by Frans Hals.)

The regents were proud she was theirs now.

6 .The Pride of Haarlem (The Request). 160 x 110 cm. Oil paint on panel.  All rights reserved.

A baker’s wife taught her spinning to earn a way of living.

7.  The Spinning Lesson.150 x100 cm. Oil paint on panel.  All rights reserved.

She wanted so bad to return to the sea.

8. Nostalgia for the sea. 100 x 120 cm. Oil paint on panel. All rights reserved.

Once tamed, the wild creature even became religious.

9. The reverse. 100 x 130cm. Oil paint on panel. All rights reserved.

 (The painting incorporates 12 different symbols of Hieronymus Bosch.)