Landschap bij Jerusalem

This colourful work is one of the rare landscape sketches Verkade made during his stay in Jerusalem in the years 1902-1912. The warm colours are typical for these works by Verkade. The mild cloissonistic style, in which this work is painted, clearly shows the effect the painters of Les Nabis had on the artist. Jan Verkade was one of few Dutch artists who actively participated in the French Avant-Garde around 1900. After his education at the Academie voor Beeldende Kunsten in Amsterdam, Verkade spent a period of time studying with his brother-in-law, the impressionist Jan Voerman sr.. After that Verkade went to Paris in 1891 where Dutch painter Meijer de Haan introduced him to Paul Gauguin and his pupil Paul Sérusier. Via Gauguin Verkade also met other painters of Les Nabis including Maurice Denis, Emile Bernard, Edouard Vuillard, Pierre Bonnard and Felix Vallaton. Sérusier and Verkade were also part of the intimate group of friends that saw Gauguin off when he left for Tahiti. At the same time Verkade went to Pont-Aven. He returned to Paris in 1892 to take part in de 8th Salon des Independants and the 2nd Exposition des Peintres Impressionistes et Symbolistes. The following year he came in contact with father Desiderius Lenz, abbot of the abbey in Beuron and also head of the Beuroner Kunstschule. In 1897 Verkade entered the Franciscan order and was included in the abbey of Beuron as Dom Willibrord Verkade. He remained in contact with his old painting friends Paul Sérusier, Emile Bernard and Maurice Denis for the rest of his life.