Lambert Doomer: A Dutch Golden Age Landscape Painter

Early Life and Training

• Born in Amsterdam, Netherlands in 1624, Lambert Doomer was the third of nine children born to Herman Doomer (1595–1650) and Baertje Martens.
• His parents ran a successful business specializing in ebony-veneer furniture.
• Initially trained as a furniture maker like his father, Lambert displayed a greater aptitude and passion for drawing.
• The identity of his artistic teacher remains unknown, though his father’s professional connections – particularly supplying frames to Rembrandt – likely provided access to instruction within that network.

Family Connections & Early Works

• Remarkably, Rembrandt painted portraits of Herman and Baertje Doomer in 1638 to commemorate their 25th wedding anniversary – an unusual practice for the time.
• These portraits are now held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York) and the Hermitage (St. Petersburg).
• In 1644, Lambert Doomer created copies of both Rembrandt’s portraits, demonstrating his skill and admiration for the master.

Travels and Artistic Development

• To further his artistic education, Doomer traveled to France with Willem Schellinks in 1646.
• They extensively documented their journey through drawings; Schellinks’ drawings are now preserved at the Fondation Custodia in Paris.
• Their travels initially took them to Nantes, where two of Doomer's brothers resided, but disagreements led them to separate.
• Both continued to England, though their journals do not mention each other during this leg of the journey.

Career and Artistic Style

• Doomer appears to have achieved success as a painter.
• In 1657, he purchased a substantial collection of drawings and sketchbooks from Rembrandt following the artist’s bankruptcy.
• His meticulous copies of these works led some to believe he was a pupil of Rembrandt, though this remains uncertain.
• He undertook a journey down the Rhine River to Switzerland in 1663.
• In 1668, at age 44, Doomer married and settled in Alkmaar, where he produced numerous drawings.
• Later in life, he moved back to Amsterdam in 1694, where he died in 1700.

Legacy and Historical Significance

• Lambert Doomer’s work provides valuable insight into the artistic practices of the Dutch Golden Age.
• His copies of Rembrandt's works offer a glimpse into the master’s techniques and style.
• His travel drawings document landscapes and scenes from 17th-century Europe, offering historical and cultural value.
• While not as widely celebrated as some of his contemporaries, Doomer remains a notable figure in Dutch landscape painting and a testament to the artistic flourishing of the era.