Hermanus Koekkoek was from a family of highly influential Dutch artists, born in Middleburg on March 13th 1815 and dying in Haarlem on November 5th 1882. His father was Johannes Hermanus Koekkoek(1778-1851) who taught him as a pupil.He became famous for painting in the Dutch Romantic style, painting mainly river landscapes and marine subjects.He travelled extensively throughout Holland to find his subjects.

He was living and working in Durgerdan in 1832,Amsterdam in 1834,returned to Durgerdan in 1836,back to Amsterdam in 1857,Nieuwer-Amstel in 1873,Amsterdam in 1882 and died in Haarlem in the same year.A number of his subjects are of the Zuider-Zee.He exhibited in the Konink-Lijke Academy in Amsterdam in 1841 and in Rotterdam in the same year.In 1875 he gained a gold medal at the Arti et Amicitiae.

Even during his lifetime his best works were exhibited and collected in the United Kingdom.He was a highly influential painter as indeed his brother B.C Koekkoek was, who enjoyed German royal patronage during his lifetime.

He had a number of pupils during his lifetime including Gruyter Jnr,his son-Hermanus Koekkoek Jnr,JHB Koekkoek and his other brother Willem who was best known for his portrayal of Dutch Town scenes.

Hermanus Koekkoek Snr’s works are on permanent display in Courtrai,Glasgow,Le Havre,Melbourne,Sheffield,The Hague,Amsterdam and in numerous well known private collections.He is mentioned in numerous literature; Pieter A. Scheen(Lexicon), Marius etc.