Pieter Feddes van Harlingen

Pieter Feddes van Harlingen (Harlingen, 1586 – Leeuwarden, 1623) , was a Dutch Golden Age friesian engraver, etcher and art painter from Baroque time.

Little is known about his life course. In 1612 he moved to Leeuwarden in Eekhoff, where he mainly produced portraits, etching, maps and especially engravings. He made carvings for the works of Frisian historians Hamconius (Hamkes) and Winsemius. Some of his etchings he signed with P. Harlingensis’. Most of his engravings show scenes from biblical history and world history. He also made many portraits, including those of Willem Lodewijk of Nassau, Hero van Inthiema and Johannes Bogerman.

According to Houbraken, who only saw his etchings, he signed his name P. Harlingensis.In 1612 he left Harlingen for Leeuwarden. He influenced Jacob Adriaensz Backer.

Most of his engravings show scenes from the Biblical history and world history. He also made portraits, including those of William Louis of Nassau, Hero of Inthiema and John advent. There are three cards of his life, of Leeuwarden, Franeker and Groningen.

Peter Jacobs’s work has that of Jacob Backer affected. Jacobs’ name comes after 1622 no longer, that there is evidence that he died shortly afterwards.

He was friends with Jan Jansz. Starter, for whose Friesche lusthof (first edition, 1621) he wrote a praise. From an inscription under this praise and an inscription under a portrait of Bogerman, it is concluded that he was also a painter (“Peter Harlingenis ad vivum pinxit”; “Pieter van Harlingen at life painter”). However, his paintings are not delivered. Johan Philip van der Kellen, in addition to 117 engravings, also mentions 14 paintings of his hand, some of which are based on some of them.

His work influenced Jacob Adriaensz Backer’s work. Because Feddes’ name no longer occurs after 1622, it is believed that he died shortly thereafter.

Feddes’ work is mainly in the Frisian Museum in Leeuwarden and in the Museum Kunstpalast of Düsseldorf.