Abraham Bloemaert | Circe, 1625-1628 | Christies
Before the 16th century, the Church commissioned most Netherlandish art. Artists, such as Lucas van Leyden, produced elaborate altarpieces.
After independence from Spain, the chief patrons were the merchant class.
The 17th century was a golden age in portraiture, landscape, and genre painting, producing artists of the calibre of Rembrandt, Jan Vermeer, Frans Hals, and Jacob an Ruisdael.