Pieter van Bloemen, also known as Standaart, was a Flemish painter born in Antwerp on January 17, 1657. He was known for his Italianate landscapes, battle scenes, and scenes of military encampments. Pieter was part of a family of artists; his brothers Jan Frans and Norbert were also accomplished painters. His nickname 'Standaart' (standard-bearer) originated from the subject of his first apprenticeship piece, which depicted a standard bearer.
After training under the guidance of landscape painter Simon Johannes van Douw, Pieter traveled extensively, which greatly influenced his artistic style. In 1674, van Bloemen went on a journey to Rome, where he became a member of the Bentvueghels, a society of mostly Dutch and Flemish artists working in Rome. It was here that he was given the nickname 'Standarda,' a variation of his earlier moniker 'Standaart.'
In Rome, Pieter van Bloemen's work was characterized by Italianate landscapes and scenes with Roman ruins, often populated with small figures. He was particularly noted for his skill in painting horses, which featured prominently in his scenes of cavalry and military encampments. His work shows the influence of the Bamboccianti, a group of northern artists who created genre scenes of everyday life in Rome and its countryside.
Van Bloemen returned to Antwerp in 1693 and became a master in the Antwerp Guild of Saint Luke the following year. His return to Antwerp did not diminish his use of Italian themes in his work. He continued to paint in an Italianate style, and his landscapes combined Flemish attention to detail with a classicizing treatment of nature, reflecting his time spent in Rome.
Pieter van Bloemen was also a teacher, and his most famous pupil was the genre painter Peter Jacob Horemans. Throughout his career, van Bloemen enjoyed considerable success. He painted for an international clientele and his works were sought after by collectors. He died in Antwerp on March 6, 1720, leaving behind an oeuvre that significantly contributed to the development of the Italianate landscape genre in Flemish art.
