Constant David Ludovic Artz

(1870 – 1951)

This well known painter was born in Paris on 3rd June 1870 and he died in Soest on 23rd February 1951.  He was the son of the well established artist David Adolph Contant Artz who initially influenced him.  He moved to the Netherlands at an early age and enlisted as a pupil of the Koninklijke Academy van Beeldende Kunsten te’s-Gravenhage near the Hague.  In 1889 he was a pupil of T. Offermans.  He particularly became famous for his subjects of ducks and water and river scenes, living and working in Soestdijk (Soersdyke).

He often signed his works Contant Artz and he is important as one of the members of the Hague School, forming the transitional period of changing styles of the Dutch Romantic Period of the mid-late 19th Century to the Impressionist influences from the Hague School.

Artz was a painter of Windmills, estuary scenes with ducks and of the weather, its moods and the climate.  He was excellent in both the mediums of watercolour and oils paints and he had a long and successful career.