Tethart Philipp Christian Haag
Tethart Philipp Christian Haag was a Dutch artist and court painter to William V of Orange-Nassau and the director of cultural institutions in The Hague.
Biography
Youth
Tethart Haag was born in Kassel. He was the son of Johann David Christian Haag, who took him in 1747 to the Netherlands when he was employed there as court painter to Stadhouderlijk Hof in Leeuwarden. When Prince William IV was elevated to stadtholder in 1747 and moved to The Hague, Johann took his son with him to move there. Tethart was taught by his father in painting and in 1756 joined a painting society in The Hague called the Confrerie Pictura, where he registered in 1760 as a portrait and horse painter.Court Painter
In 1760, Tethart followed his deceased father as court painter to Stadtholder Prince William V. In that capacity he made an inventory of the paintings in the governor's court between 1763 and 1764. From Haag, alongside portraits of the governor, several other works depicted: stable interiors and driving schools, portraits of horses with or without driver and portraits of prominent people, often depicted on horseback. A remarkable work of Haag is his painting of Wilhelmina of Prussia, Princess of Orange on a horse, which hangs in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. Contrary to tradition he did not picture her sitting with both legs on one side, but in the male position, which was customary for kings and emperors. Tethart Haag gave painting lessons to the princess. He also made drawings of paintings by famous masters, including The Young Bull by Paulus Potter. Haag also worked as an engraver and etcher.Director of Cultural Institutions
In addition to his work for the governor's court and as an artist, Haag held various posts at cultural institutions in The Hague. He was chief of the Hague guild Confrerie Pictura and in 1788 he was appointed dean. He was also director of the Hague Academy of Drawing.He died in 1812 in The Hague.