Marinus Adrianus Koekkoek Iartist • painter • watercolourist • draughtsmanMiddelburg 1807-1868 Amsterdam

Marinus Adrianus, the second son and student of Johannes Hermanus, specialized in the landscape, just like his brother Barend Cornelis. At first it seemed as if his painting talent for the fine arts was lost, because he did not have an education at the academy. In Hilversum he was a house and decoration painter, an unusual start to a painter's career at the time, and he sold painting supplies. Landscape painting became his main occupation from 1837 onwards. He went to Kleve to study with Barend Cornelis. Marinus Adrianus had a lot of talent, and his best work is very similar to that of his brother. Marinus Adrianus landscapes are regularly signed with 'B.C. Koekkoek', a questionable 'honor', which was also proved to some contemporaries. However, there are differences: he usually portrays humans and animals smaller than Barend Cornelis, in order to emphasize their insignificance towards the overwhelming nature even more. In addition, panoramic landscapes are more common at Marinus Adrianus, wide and open with a view of hazy distances, less hindered by dense bushes and tree groups. Winters also painted Marinus Adrianus, often as half of a pendant, but he still preferred summer, when nature is enveloped in lush greenery. Mighty trees with widely branched foliage, wading cattle in cooling pools, and walkers along fields and roads are the extras, in a vast landscape as an impressive backdrop.