Bartholomeus Johannes van Hove

(1790-1880)

Bartholomeus Johannes van Hove was of great importance to 19th Century painting. He was a Hague scene painter who may be described as the foundation upon which a whole generation of artists has been built, either directly through himself or indirectly through his son and pupil, Hubertus. 
There are little pictures of his, representing churches seen from the entrance to the choir. 

Bartholomeus Johannes van Hove, like most scene painters, was a Jack-of-all-Trades. He painted a complete set of scenery for the theatre of Nijmgen, where the curtain is admired to this day; for The Hague he designed the side scenes for The Wreck of the Medusa, which are considered his best stage work. 

As a lad, he had begun with engraving, afterwards he worked under his father who was a frame maker and also did a little engraving and through him became acquainted with the scene painter of The Hague Theatre, J.H.A.A. Breckenheimer, who trained him in his own art. 

B J van Hove’s little pictures, mostly town views, were much valued in their time.  His tenth birthday was splendidly celebrated at the Theatre and by Pulchri Studio, a well-known artists club, which presented him with an inscribed silver goblet.

He lived to be nearly 90 years old. His chief pupils were Bosboom, Sam Verveer, H. J. Weissenbruch, Everadus Koster and his eldest son, Hubertus.