Bernhard Keil Paintings

Bernhard Keil, also known as Bernhard Keilhau or by his Italian nickname Bernardo Keilhau, was a Danish Baroque painter who became a pupil of Rembrandt. Born in Elsinore, Denmark in 1624, Keil showed an early interest in art and was sent to study under Rembrandt in Amsterdam around 1642.

After his apprenticeship, Keil traveled to Italy, where he was heavily influenced by the work of the Bamboccianti, a group of genre painters in Rome who were known for their depictions of everyday life. He lived in Rome for a significant period, starting from around 1651, and his work from this period shows a clear departure from the influence of Rembrandt, adopting a lighter palette and focusing on scenes of everyday life, often imbued with a sense of humor.

Keil was particularly known for his genre scenes, portraits, and also religious works. His genre scenes were often populated with figures such as beggars, street vendors, and other characters from the lower strata of society, executed with a great deal of naturalism and attention to detail.

During his time in Italy, Keil became associated with the Bentvueghels, an association of mainly Dutch and Flemish artists working in Rome, and was given the nickname 'Monsu Bernardo.' His work was well received, and he had a successful career in Italy.

Keil returned to Denmark in the late 1670s, where he became court painter to King Christian V and continued to work until his death in Copenhagen in 1687. His paintings are now found in various museums and collections around the world, testifying to his skill and the international nature of his career. Despite not being as widely recognized as some of his contemporaries, Keil's work provides an important insight into the cross-cultural exchanges between the Dutch and Italian artistic traditions of the 17th century.