Henk Bremmer

Dutch painter, art critic, educator and collector.

Bremmer was called the "kunstpaus" (art pope) of the Netherlands. He was one of the fist influential persons to recognise the value of Vincent van Gogh. He arranged long lasting stipends for Bart van der Leck (1912-45)and others in the hope that he could make a more secure living of his art.

Bremmer advised his student Helene Kröller-Müller, (11 February 1869, Essen – 14 December 1939, Otterlo), then the richest woman of the Netherlands, in establishing her art famous collection. Helene donated in 1935 her collection to the Dutch state, on condition that a large museum be built in the gardens of her park in Otterlo. The Kröller-Müller Museum was opened in 1938.

In 1951 Bremmer received a honorary Doctorate in Groningen.

He died 10 January 1956 in Den Haag.

Personal.

On 2 October 1895 he married Aleida Magdeltje Beekhuis (20 April 1866, Buitenpost - 26 July 1945, Den Haag). They got three sons and a daughter. His son Rudolf Bremmer (16 April 1900, Den Haag - 26 October 1993, Laren) became a painter and Henk Bremmer (23 March 1904 - 6 February 1996) a physicist.