Raden Saleh, the Naturalism and the Neoclassic Painter from Indonesia
Self Portrait of Raden Saleh & the Link to The Foundation
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Who is Raden Saleh?
Taken from Wikipedia, Javadesindo, Raden Saleh ORG, freely translated : Raden Saleh’s full name is Raden Saleh Sjarif Boestaman. He was born from Sayyid Husen bin Alwi bin Awal bin Yahya (or Kyai Ngabehi Kertoboso Bustaman) as the father - an Indonesian of Arab descent. He was the grandson of Sayyid Abdullah Bustaman maternally and Mas Adjeng Zarip Hoesen as the Mother. He was famous for becoming the First Modern Painter in Indonesia who was influenced by the Neoclassic genre as he lived during 18th centuries. Because of he was considered born from Noble Hadhrami family, he was sent to study in Dutch Education School since he was a child. He was friendly among others, so that he was easily accepted in the Dutch East Indies Society. He was a friend of Prof. Caspar Reinwardt who was the founder of Bogor Botanical Garden and the Director of Farming, Art, and Knowledge for Java Island and nearby. The director saw his talent and outstanding ability, then he believed that Raden Saleh should have contract job with his department. He took the chance and he - himself opened the opportunity to develop himself in knowledge, especially in Art. He studied the visual art from the Belgian artist and lecturer named A A J Payen who was sent and appointed to capture the sceneries of Java Island by the Netherland Government at that time. Payen also noticed his big talent so that he initiatively gave the tutorials. Payen had helped Raden Saleh by opening the knowledge door to study about the Western Art,... |
the Technic to Paint, and the Introduction of the Oil Paintings. Raden Saleh was considered as very clever student, so that Payen decided to give him opportunity to study further in Netherland. He recommended Raden Saleh to General Governor G A G Ph. Van Der Capellen, and the governor agreed right away after seeing the great talent that Raden Saleh had. Capellen sent him as the tutor for teaching the Culture and the Habits of Javanese. He also should teach the Melayu and Javanese language to the Dutch Financial Inspector - De Linge. All Raden Saleh’s expenditures during the journey and studying in Netherland were paid by Capellen.
Raden Saleh developed fast during studying in Netherland. He was considered as tough competitor by the local painters. In the first 2 years, Raden Saleh learnt the Dutch language and the technic of stone printing. For Painting field, in the first five years, he studied the portrait painting from Cornelis Kruseman and the scenery theme painting from Andries Schelfhout. Raden Saleh was developed firm in painting field, he started to hold exhibition in Den Haag and Amsterdam, the Dutch society liked his paintings and admired him that he was capable to study the western technic.
After he was finished studied the Art, Raden Saleh also tried to open the opportunity further to develop his ability as Painter, and to learn about science, landscape, and aero planes. He got the opportunity, but since the scholarship was not available, he had to pay the expenditures by himself. After he finished study in Netherland, he tried to study in Germany. He stayed there for five years as Honour Guest for Germany Kingdom, learning in Dresden and Weimar, Germany. In 1844, he got back to Netherland, and worked as Painter for Netherland Royal Families. |
The Capture of Diponegoro Prince by R. Saleh & the Link to the Auction Website
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His sight for Visual Art had developed rapidly, he admired Ferdinand Victor Eugene Delacroix (1798-1863), The Famous French Painter. He painted many Animal Battles and Wild Life on Huge Canvas, which were representing Aggressive human behavior. He visited Aljazair with his painter friend – Horace Vernet. Then, after he visited Austria and Italia, he decided to return to Indonesia with his Netherland wife.
When he settled down in Batavia – Jakarta now, he worked as Conservator for Artwork Collector Organization. He also kept working as painter, he painted several portraits for Indonesian Aristocrat families. Here, he met his second wife (Raden Ayu Danudirdja) from the Solo Aristocrat family. He lived in Batavia near Cikini and he was known, love the wildlife and environments. He decided to donate his big park for becoming zoo and now known as Taman Ismail Marzuki. Meanwhile, his home right now is famous as PGI Hospital in Cikini, Jakarta.
In 1875, he and his second wife went back to Europe. He returned in 1878, and decided to stay in Bogor with his wife. He died in 23 April 1880, he was buried in Bondongan, Bogor.
It is believed that he was influenced by the Romanticsm painter from France, named Delacroix. Because most of his painting colours consist of dark colours, like : brown colour combined with gray which represent the dramatical terrified situations, as it is the critical situation for life and death. The paintings picture dignity and cruelty at the same time, they are representing the religiosity and uncertainty in this life. He had been very cynical for human behavior who like to bother other creature lives. You can see it in the hunting paintings.
The world also appreciate his paintings, his paintings are exhibited in Domestic and Oversea Huge Museums like : Rijkmuseum, Amsterdam, Netherland and Louvre, Paris, Perancis.
What is his Achievement ?
Awards :
Exhibitions :
The Artworks :
From the oil paintings, you can figure out that they are made with careful and skillful hands. The strokes of his brush are very smooth. It is influenced by the European Painting Genre – Neoclassical (18th to 19th century). The paintings always picture everything in beauty. Even sorrows and pains are captured beautifully inside his paintings.
Resource Links :
http://lelang-lukisanmaestro.blogspot.co.id/2013/06/lukisan-karya-raden-saleh.html#
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raden_Saleh
http://radensaleh.org/oleh_Pelukis.htm
Useful Links :
http://artdaily.com/news/37139/Rare-Work-by-Javanese-Artist-Raden-Saleh-to-be-Offered-at-Christie-s#.WGYgN_l96yI
http://artsalesindex.artinfo.com/auction/Raden-Saleh-154993.ai
http://www.invaluable.com/catalog/searchLots.cfm?scp=m&shw=50&issc=1&ad=DESC&artistref=pc6xm9g8v2&ord=2&alf=1&row=51
When he settled down in Batavia – Jakarta now, he worked as Conservator for Artwork Collector Organization. He also kept working as painter, he painted several portraits for Indonesian Aristocrat families. Here, he met his second wife (Raden Ayu Danudirdja) from the Solo Aristocrat family. He lived in Batavia near Cikini and he was known, love the wildlife and environments. He decided to donate his big park for becoming zoo and now known as Taman Ismail Marzuki. Meanwhile, his home right now is famous as PGI Hospital in Cikini, Jakarta.
In 1875, he and his second wife went back to Europe. He returned in 1878, and decided to stay in Bogor with his wife. He died in 23 April 1880, he was buried in Bondongan, Bogor.
It is believed that he was influenced by the Romanticsm painter from France, named Delacroix. Because most of his painting colours consist of dark colours, like : brown colour combined with gray which represent the dramatical terrified situations, as it is the critical situation for life and death. The paintings picture dignity and cruelty at the same time, they are representing the religiosity and uncertainty in this life. He had been very cynical for human behavior who like to bother other creature lives. You can see it in the hunting paintings.
The world also appreciate his paintings, his paintings are exhibited in Domestic and Oversea Huge Museums like : Rijkmuseum, Amsterdam, Netherland and Louvre, Paris, Perancis.
What is his Achievement ?
Awards :
- Raden Saleh is admired by many people especially by Royal Families from Netherland, Belgia, Germany. They decide to give him awards, as follows : Star of Ridder der Orde van de Eikenkoon (R.E.K.), Commandeur met de ster der Frans Joseph Orde (C.F.J.), Ksatria Orde Mahkota Prusia (R.K.P.), Ridder van de Witte Valk (R.W.V.), etc.
- Mostly the idea of the paintings are about idealism for Freedom and Independency, and his dislike of injustice. He is considered as Nationalist, even though he learnt so many things from western world. He was awarded as National Hero due to his efforts during Diponegoro Prince arrested and his remarkable artistic actions.
- The Indonesian government are also very proud of him. As their appreciation, they used two of his paintings picture for National Stamps in 1967.
Exhibitions :
- The world also appreciate his paintings, his paintings are exhibited in Oversea Huge Museums like : Rijkmuseum, Amsterdam, Netherland, and Louvre, Paris, Perancis.
- In Indonesia, The Paintings are also exhibited in Museum Merdeka, Jakarta.
The Artworks :
From the oil paintings, you can figure out that they are made with careful and skillful hands. The strokes of his brush are very smooth. It is influenced by the European Painting Genre – Neoclassical (18th to 19th century). The paintings always picture everything in beauty. Even sorrows and pains are captured beautifully inside his paintings.
- Portraits
- Nature Sceneries (Beautiful and Disaster Sceneries)
- Animals or Wildlife Battles
- Heroic Theme
Resource Links :
http://lelang-lukisanmaestro.blogspot.co.id/2013/06/lukisan-karya-raden-saleh.html#
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raden_Saleh
http://radensaleh.org/oleh_Pelukis.htm
Useful Links :
http://artdaily.com/news/37139/Rare-Work-by-Javanese-Artist-Raden-Saleh-to-be-Offered-at-Christie-s#.WGYgN_l96yI
http://artsalesindex.artinfo.com/auction/Raden-Saleh-154993.ai
http://www.invaluable.com/catalog/searchLots.cfm?scp=m&shw=50&issc=1&ad=DESC&artistref=pc6xm9g8v2&ord=2&alf=1&row=51