The Life and Career of Theodor van Pee
Born in Amsterdam, Theodor van Pee was the son of the painter Jan van Pee and Hendrika. Although he initially trained as an apprentice to a jeweller to join the Goldsmiths' Guild, he eventually sought his father's permission to train as a painter. He is believed to have been a pupil of his father, though his maternal grandfather, Mathijs Hendriks Krayvelt, was also a painter who likely contributed to his training. Theodor traveled to Rome to study the works of artists such as Raphael, Giulio Romano, and Correggio, yet he remained a Lutheran throughout his life.
His early career saw success with various commissions, including studies of Northern Italian gypsies and portraits of the Masters of the Amsterdam Tailors’ Guild. As the economic recession in the Netherlands followed the Peace of Ryswick, he diversified his business by selling painted garden furniture, statuary, and carved timber. He also became a dealer in Italian paintings, and in 1715, he took his collection to London to find buyers among English noblemen and merchants.
Later Years and Legacy
While in London, Theodor was commissioned by Sir Matthew Decker to paint a ceiling-piece of life-size figures. Despite facing financial challenges following the collapse of the South Sea Company stock, he continued his business of selling ornamental objects. After seven years in London, he returned to the Netherlands, where he was a member of the Utrecht Guild of Saint Luke in 1737. His artistic skill was recognized through commissions such as the portrait of Jean-Baptiste de Boyer, Marquis d'Argens, and the Abbé Prévost.
Theodor van Pee died in The Hague. His estate, which included twenty-four paintings by him and two by his father, was sold at auction in 1747. His daughter, Henrietta, studied painting under him and married one of his pupils, Hermanus Wolters.
