Dorus Arts - Beautifully painted oil painting "forest and heathland view" around 1950 - LARGE! - Sold

• A large oil on canvas painting, which the Nijmegen-born painter Dorus Arts must have painted around 1950. This late blooming Hague School artist, who later emigrated to Canada, painted these typical Dutch landscapes mainly after his departure.
• This large oil painting has canvas size 50x75cm (HxW) and is in good condition. Signed lower right and provided with a classic (not antique) frame.

Theodorus (Dorus) Arts (Hernen, near Nijmegen, 25 May 1901 – Montreal (Canada), 8 April 1961) was a Dutch painter.

Dorus Arts was born into a poor farming family. During his school years, the family moved to Nijmegen to start a dairy business. His talent was discovered at a young age, but his family lacked the means to give him a specific education as a painter. In 1916, his father enrolled him as a student in the painting department of the Ambachtschool in Nijmegen. His drawing teacher Van Hooydonk introduced him to painters in the Nijmegen region. In 1924, he became a member of the Nijmegen art circle "In Consten Eén", which later continued under the name Nijmeegs Genootschap van Beeldende Kunstenaars. Through this art circle, he met painters such as Toorop, Hamilton-Falise, Lücker, Van Mourik and Hammes. The members of the art circle had the opportunity to exhibit in the Waag building, and works by Arts were regularly displayed in that monumental space. He made a name for himself with his beautiful landscapes that he painted, particularly in Gelderland, Limburg and Brabant. His ominous skies, marshy fens, proud trees and sun-drenched country roads show a tranquil atmosphere. Particularly striking and unique are the mysterious landscapes by moonlight. He felt intimately connected to the nature of his native soil. The landscape was the main theme of his work throughout his life. From 1928 onwards, Arts also began to specialize in figure and portrait studies and received commissions to produce portraits.
Dorus Arts married W. Maria Mijling in 1929. Seven children were born from the marriage. Although he was very productive as a painter, he was not doing well financially during the crisis years of the 1930s. During the years of the Second World War, the Arts family was barely able to keep their heads above water. Slowly but surely, plans emerged to make a new start overseas. Dutch scenes in the style of the Hague School were very popular abroad in the early 1950s. Traders recognized this style in the work of Dorus Arts. After his eldest son Marcus had preceded them, Dorus and Mien Arts emigrated to Canada with the other children in 1955. The first years went smoothly. His sons built a studio in their house near Montreal with a view of the Saint Lawrence River. In his work from that period, a longing for the Netherlands, especially the fens, polders, hills and forests around Nijmegen, shines through. Due to deteriorating health (swollen joints and rheumatic fever), his work waned. He died as a result of a cerebral hemorrhage.