Aert Schouman (Dutch, 1710-1792) Agouti

Aert Schouman (Dutch, 1710-1792)AgoutiWatercolor over traces of black chalk, within remains of black ink framing linesPaper size: 10 x 12 inFrame size: 21 1/2 x 27 1/2 in   Aert Schouman was a prolific artist who specialized in flower painting and engraving on glass but was foremost in the art of natural history painting. After training with F. Greenwood and Adriaen van den Burg, he became a master painter at The Hague in 1748, and three years later regent of the art academy.  By 1762 he had been appointed principal of the academy and included among his pupils the great Dutch flower painter Jan van Os.  Schouman was fortunate to receive royal patronage and completed many works for Prince Willem V at the summer palace of Het Loo, at Apeldoorn.  The Prince owned a zoological cabinet and a menagerie that contained mammals, snakes, and birds from various parts of the world.  Although newly arrived exotic birds were popularly depicted, the favorite bird subjects in the eighteenth century we