Herman van der Weeleartist • painter • watercolourist • draughtsmanMiddelburg 1852-1930 Den Haag

Herman van der Weele was born in Middelburg and from an early age took painting and drawing lessons in addition to his job as supervisor at the sea and harbour works in Zeeland. In 1873 he moved to The Hague where he became a member of Pulchri Studio and became influenced by the work of the Hague School painter Anton Mauve. Van der Weele, like his older friend Pieter ter Meulen, is therefore regarded as one of the followers of the Hague School. He mainly found his inspiration in the surroundings of Nunspeet and Elspeet on the Veluwe, where he painted the heathland landscape with flocks of sheep, timber carts and plowing oxen. Van der Weele earned a lot of money selling his paintings in Canada and the United States. He was friends with many of his contemporaries and maintained close contacts with Van Gogh and Breitner, who greatly admired his work.