Willem Vaarzon Morelartist • painter • watercolourist • draughtsmanZutphen 1868-1955 Koudekerke

When Willem Vaarzon Morel settled in Veere in 1910, he had already built up a certain reputation as an artist and illustrator. He came from an artistic family, was born in Zutphen and raised in Haarlem, which is where he lived while attending the Amsterdam Rijksacademie (National Academy). His fellow student Breitner, who was fourteen years his senior, became the greatest influence on his work. After the Academy, Vaarzon Morel travelled to various places including Paris, Italy and Switzerland. On the advice of Lucie van Dam van Isselt, he then relocated to Veere where a lively artists’ colony was situated. There he developed into a versatile artist, with a love for cityscapes, the harbour, beach scenes, flowers and settings including elegant women. After him, two generations of Vaarzon Morels would continue to paint in Veere.