Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Roestraten, Pieter van
ROESTRATEN, PIETER van (1627–1700), painter of portraits and still life, son of Gerrit van Roestraten of Amsterdam, was born at Haarlem in Holland in 1627. He was a pupil of Frans Hals, whose daughter Ariaentge he married in 1654. Although he practised portrait-painting, Roestraten devoted himself principally to painting still life, this class of art being practised with great success in Haarlem by the sons and pupils of Frans Hals. Roestraten especially excelled in the delineation of gold and silver plate, musical instruments, &c. He came over to England, and was patronised by his fellow-countryman, Peter Lely, who showed some of his work to Charles II. Lely is doubtfully said to have been jealous of him as a portrait-painter, and therefore to have encouraged him to devote himself to still life. Roestraten met with great success in England, and his pictures are far from uncommon, although they have seldom met with the recognition they deserve. Two pictures by him are in the royal collection at Hampton Court, six at Newbattle Abbey, others at Chatsworth, Waldershare, and other seats of the nobility and gentry. During the fire of London Roestraten received an injury to his hip which lamed him for the rest of his life. A portrait of him (engraved in Walpole's ‘Anecdotes of Painting’) suggests that he was of a convivial disposition. In his will, dated 29 April 1700 (P. C. C. 105, Noel), he is described as of St. Paul's, Covent Garden, ‘picture-drawer.’ The will was proved on 24 July 1700 by his widow, Clara, who was his second wife.
[Walpole's Anecdotes of Painting, ed. Wornum; De Piles's Lives of the Painters; Bode's Studien der holländischen Malerei; Oud Holland, iii. 310, xi. 215; Houbraken's Groote Schouburgh der Nederlantsche Konstschilders; information from Dr. A. Bredius, Dr. C. Hofstede De Groot, and Mr. Oswald Barron.]