Raden Saleh Sjarif Boestaman

Place: Terboyo (Bij Semarang)

Born: 1811

Death: 1880

Biography:

Raden Saleh Sjarif Boestaman was a pioneering Indonesian Romantic painter of Arab-Javanese ethnicity, considered to be the first "modern" artist from Indonesia. Born in 1811 on the island of Java, he was trained in Bogor by the Belgian artist A.J. Payen and later in the Netherlands and Germany.

Early Life and Training

Raden Saleh was born into a noble Hadhrami family and was first taught in Bogor by A.J. Payen. He was then sent to the Netherlands to study art, where he began to study under Cornelis Kruseman and Andreas Schelfhout. It was from Kruseman that Raden Saleh studied his skills in portraiture, and later was accepted at various European courts where he was assigned to do portraits.

Travel to Europe

During his time in Europe, Raden Saleh visited several European cities, as well as Algiers. He became the first indigenous Indonesian to be initiated into Freemasonry in 1836. From 1839, he spent five years at the court of Ernest I, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, who became an important patron. Many of his paintings were exhibited at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.

Notable Works

Some of Raden Saleh's notable works include:

• Raden Saleh Sjarif Boestaman: Wounded Lion (108 x 88 cm, National Gallery Singapore, Oil On Canvas)
• Raden Saleh Sjarif Boestaman: The Lion Hunt (142 x 88 cm, The Art Museum RIGA BOURSE, Oil On Canvas)

These paintings showcase Raden Saleh's skills in capturing the beauty of nature and the drama of animal fights.

Return to Indonesia

Raden Saleh returned to Dutch East Indies in 1852, after living in Europe for 20 years. He worked as conservator for the colonial collection of government art and acted as court painter to the Governors-General. More information about his life and works can be found on Wikioo.org and Wikipedia. Raden Saleh Sjarif Boestaman is an important figure in Indonesian art history, and his paintings continue to inspire artists today. His use of European romantic tradition and Indonesian themes created a unique style that showcases the beauty of Indonesia.