Roelandt Roghmann Paintings

Roelandt Savery was a Dutch Golden Age painter, draughtsman, and etcher. He was born in Kortrijk, the Southern Netherlands (now Belgium) in 1576, and he died in Utrecht, the Dutch Republic, in 1639. Savery's talent developed early on, and his detailed, often exotic and imaginative landscapes, as well as his depictions of animals, gained him considerable recognition.

Savery was the son of Maerten Savery, a painter, and he likely received his initial training from his elder brother, Jacob Savery, who was also an artist. After the death of his father and brother, Savery moved to Amsterdam, and later to Prague where he became a court painter to Emperor Rudolf II. The emperor had a great interest in rarities and curiosities, and Savery's skill in painting animals and landscapes was highly prized at the court. The artist's time in Prague significantly influenced his style; he was exposed to other artists at the court, such as the miniaturist Hoefnagel, which led to the refinement of his technique and the inclusion of minute details in his works.

In 1619, Savery moved to Utrecht, where he became a member of the Guild of St. Luke. His work continued to enjoy high demand, and he created numerous paintings of the Garden of Eden, landscapes with animals, and still lifes. One of his most famous works is 'The Dodo', which is a testament to Savery's role as one of the earliest artists to depict this now-extinct bird. His works are characterized by a high degree of realism combined with a sense of fantasy, particularly in his landscape works which often include imaginary elements.

Savery's influence extended to other artists, including his nephew Hans Savery the Younger, and he played a role in the development of the still life genre in the Northern Netherlands. His meticulous approach to painting, particularly his attention to detail in depicting plants and animals, reflects a period of great interest in the natural world, and his works continue to be of interest to art historians and natural historians alike. Roelandt Savery's legacy is preserved in the collections of major museums across the world, showcasing the enduring appeal of his artistic vision.