Aleida Greve

1670–1742

Active in: The Netherlands

Biography

Aleida Greve was born in Zwolle, the Netherlands, in 1670 to Geurt Greve, a brewer, and Lamberta Holt. Her family was a prominent part of the regent class in Zwolle. Aleida’s elder half-sister was the painter Cornelia van Marle (1661–1698). The painter Aleida Wolfsen (1648–1692) was Greve’s older cousin, and it has been speculated that Wolfsen taught Greve and their mutual female relatives. Along with her other cousins, Sophia Holt (1658–1734) and Anna Cornelia Holt (1671–1692), Greve also studied under the painter Wilhelmus Beurs (1656–1700).

Few of Greve’s paintings remain. Indeed, only six signed works have been catalogued: two landscapes, three portraits, and one still life. All of Greve’s existing works are still on display in her former home, referred to as the “Vrouwenhuis.” Originally purchased by Greve as her home and studio, the building has since served as an apartment building and a museum as well as an exhibition space for women artists. Greve placed her own work in the Vrouwenhuis, along with works by Wolfsen and Van Marle. In her will, Greve stipulated that the sitting room’s paintings and furnishings remain intact, and the works remain in the Vrouwenhuis to this day. Te house subsequently became a retirement home for women, hence the name the building carries to this day. Greve, who never married, died in Zwolle in 1742. At the end of her life, Greve was the richest woman in Zwolle and one of the six wealthiest residents in the town.

Selected Works

A landscape showing a reddish-brown stone ruin with an arched doorway into it, alongside a blue stream or pond. The sky above is blue and purple, with a full moon that is reflected into the water..

Aleida Greve, Landscape with Ruin, 1689. Oil on canvas, 25.6 x 21.7 cm. Vrouwenhuis Museum, Zwolle

A landscape showing a sculpture of two stone angels in the foreground. In the distance, a brown stone building stands near some cliffs, and beyond that in the far distance are mountains.

Aleida Greve, Landscape with Sculpture, 1689. Oil on canvas, 25.6 x 21.7 cm. Vrouwenhuis Museum, Zwolle

A light-skinned man with shoulder-length curly brown hair and a long brown robe stands in front of sevveral outdoor sculptures. The sculptures take the form of a large pitcher-like shape on a square base, with cherubs wrestling decorating the side, and a white stone fountain that is also decorated with cherubs. In the far distance, a large house is visible.

Aleida Greve, Portrait of an Unknown Man, 1688. Oil on canvas, 65 x 56 cm. Vrouwenhuis Museum, Zwolle

A light-skinned woman with brown hair and a black dress stands in a landscaped garden. She is leaning with one arm on a planter that contains a miniature fruit tree bearing appples or oranges, with angels decorating teh bottom of the planter. Behind her, large sculptural shrubs are visible, as well as a fountain and a peacock.

Aleida Greve, Portrait of an Unknown Woman, 1687. Oil on canvas, 65 x 56 cm. Vrouwenhuis Museum, Zwolle

A woman with very light skin, blonde curls, and a red dress with white sash is seated at an outdoor table that has fruit spread over it. She is holding a bunch of grapes in one hand, while a hawk is perched on her other hand. In the background are evergreen trees, a large hill, and a single brown house.

Aleida Greve, Portrait of a Young Woman with Bird, 1686. Oil on canvas. Vrouwenhuis Museum, Zwolle

Three dead birds are shown. One small bird with a red mark on its head and black wingtips is laid on its side on top of a brown wooden table. The other two birds are suspended by their legs from a pole above the table with tied string. One of the birds is small and mostly brown, with a white belly. The other bird is much larger than the other two, with a red face, grayish-brown neck and body, and golden-brown wings. It has a large spot of blood on its stomach.

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View artist timeline
Selected works

Circle

Cousin of
Anna Cornelia

Cousin of
Sophia Holt

Cousin of
Aleida Wolfsen

Half-sister of
Cornelia van Marle

Student of
Wilhelmus Beurs

Bibliography

Beurs, Wilhelmus. De groote waereld in ‘t kleen geschildert, of schilderagtig tafereel van ‘s weerelds schilderyen, kortelijk vervat in ses boeken. Verklarende de hooftverwen, haare versheide mengelingen in oly, en der zelver gebruik. Amsterdam, 1692.

Catalogus van de Overijssels-geschiedkundige tentoonstelling van 1882. Zwolle, 1882.

Honig, Elizabeth Alice. “The Art of Being ‘Artistic’: Dutch Women’s Creative Practices in the 17th Century.” Woman’s Art Journal 22 (2001): 31–39.

Huijsmans, Wim. “Melkmarkt 39. Drie huizen aan de Grote Aa.” In Stedelijk Museum Zwolle. Perspectieven. Zwolle, 1997.

Jong, L. de. “’Mijn vermaak en Kroone.’ Schilderessen in het Vrouwenhuis in Zwolle.” In Vrouwen en kunst in de Republiek: een overzicht. Hilversum: Verloren, 1998.

Moes, E. W. Iconographia Batava. Beredeneerde lijst van geschilderde en gebeeldhouwde portretten van Noord-Nederlanders in vorige eeuwen 1. Amsterdam, 1897.

Streng, Jean. “’Fraeye consten ende wetenschappen.’ Zwols cultureel leven in de zeventiende eeuw.” In Zwolle in de Gouden Eeuw. Cultuur en schilderkunst. Zwolle, 1997.

Ten Hove, Jan. Het Vrouwenhuis te Zwolle. Zwolle, 1994.

Van der Heijden, Pieter. “Zelfportret van een weldoenster.” Vitrine 10 (1997): 40–41.

Van Hall, H. Portretten van Nederlandse beeldende kunstenaars. Repertorium. Amsterdam, 1963.

Zwiers, Saskia. “De muiltjes van Aleida Greve.” Archeologie en bouwhistorie in Zwolle 5 (2005): 116–22.

Zwiers, Saskia. “Greve, Aleida (1670–1742).” http://resources.huygens.knaw.nl/vrouwenlexicon/lemmata/data/greve.