Johan Frederik Cornelis Scherrewitz

1868 - 1951

Johan Scherrewitz was born in Amsterdam on 18th March 1868. He inherited his artistic talent from his mother, who was French and related to the painter Antoine Renou. Initially he took art classes from a drawing teacher at Velsen but later he studied painting under the Dutch landscape artist G.J.H. Poggenbee.

During his early life, Scherrewitz worked in Amsterdam until 1898, Laren until 1902 and Haarlem between 1902 - 1904, but he finally settled in Hilversum. Scherrewitz painted landscapes with cattle but his most beautiful paintings were those of the seashore, often with Dutch fishing boats or horses with carts. His works are always recognisable with their open Dutch skies and sparkling water with shimmering reflections. Scherrewitz travelled to France and Germany but many of the artist's paintings were exported to England. He exhibited in 1916 at The Scottish Academy. His works can be found in many private collections throughout the world including that of Queen Wilhemina of Holland.

(Rijksmuseum Twente)