The Fish Market

Born in Haarlem in 1633, Dirk Helmbrecker was the son of an organist and consequently was destined to become a musician. However, his love of painting prevailed and he became the pupil of Pietersz Frans de Grebber a Haarlem based history painter, alongside the young fellow student Peter Lely.

In 1652 he was admitted to the Haarlem Guild and in the same year, following the death of his father, he travelled to Italy with fellow painters Vincent van der Vinne, Cornelis Bega and Willem du Bois.

He worked in turn in Venice where he was under the patronage of Senator Loredano; in Rome where his patron was the Cardinal of the Medici, then Florence and finally Naples.

On his return to Haarlem he enjoyed considerable success but despite this he went back to Rome where he undertook a lot of work for the Jesuits.

Museums where his work can be seen include: Florence, Lille, Nancy and Nantes.