The most famous artists with works in the Fondation Custodia are Jacob van Ruisdael, David Teniers the Younger, Johan Jongkind and Willem Kalf.
Below, the 10 best-known of the 72 artists with works of the Fondation Custodia in our catalogue (83 works), each with what the museum holds of them.
The masters of the originals
The 10 masters whose originals hang in the Fondation Custodia
For each master: where and when they were born, their movement, how many originals the museum keeps in our catalogue, a note from their life, and the originals to see.
-
Dutch Golden Age
1. Jacob van Ruisdael 1628–1682
1628–1682 Born in Haarlem, Netherlands Dutch Golden Age 2 originals at the Fondation Custodia
Born in Haarlem, Netherlands, in 1628, Jacob Isaackszoon Van Ruisdael entered a world where art was a family trade. It is widely believed that Jacob Isaackszoon Van Ruisdael received his formal training under the guidance of his uncle, absorbing the nuances of the Dutch landscape through direct apprenticeship. By 1648, his professional standing was formalized when he became a member of the Haarlem painters' guild.
Originals at the Fondation Custodia
-
Flemish Baroque
2. David Teniers the Younger 1610–1690
1610–1690 Born in Antwerp, Belgium Flemish Baroque 2 originals at the Fondation Custodia
The family is deeply rooted in the Flemish tradition, a lineage of painters that extends to his brothers, Juliaan III, Theodoor, and Abraham. In Brussels, Gillis van Tilborgh is believed to have trained under him.
Originals at the Fondation Custodia
-
Impressionism
3. Johan Jongkind 1819–1891
1819–1891 Born in Lattrop, Netherlands Impressionism 2 originals at the Fondation Custodia
Though initially employed as a clerk, his inherent artistic inclinations led him to The Hague in 1837, where he began formal training under Andreas Schelfhout, a respected landscape painter steeped in the Dutch tradition. Jongkind entered the studios of Eugène Isabey and François-Édouard Picot, immersing himself in the French art scene. Jongkind's return to the Netherlands in 1855 was temporary.
Originals at the Fondation Custodia
-
Baroque
4. Willem Kalf 1619–1693
1619–1693 Born in Rotterdam, Netherlands Baroque 2 originals at the Fondation Custodia
Willem Kalf, a name synonymous with the lavish still lifes of the Dutch Golden Age, was born in Rotterdam in 1619 into a family of comfortable means. Though details surrounding Kalf’s early training remain somewhat elusive, it is known he experienced a period of artistic development in Paris during the 1630s, immersing himself within the vibrant community of Flemish artists working in Saint-Germain-des-Prés.
Originals at the Fondation Custodia
-
Dutch Golden Age
5. Willem van de Velde the Younger 1633–1707
1633–1707 Born in Leiden, Netherlands Dutch Golden Age 2 originals at the Fondation Custodia
Dutch Golden Age marine painter of precise naval vessels and atmospheric sea and sky scenes, known for his technical accuracy and rigging. He is born into a family of artists, the son of the painter Willem van de Velde the Elder.
Originals at the Fondation Custodia
-
Dutch Golden Age
6. Nicolaes Pieterszoon Berchem 1620–1683
1620–1683 Born in Haarlem, Netherlands Dutch Golden Age 2 originals at the Fondation Custodia
The foundations of his skill were laid within his own family, with his father, Pieter Claesz, being a celebrated still-life painter whose influence undoubtedly shaped Nicolaes’ early eye for detail and composition. The pivotal moment in Berchem’s artistic development arrived between 1642 and 1645 when he journeyed to Italy alongside Jan Baptist Weenix.
Originals at the Fondation Custodia
-
Romanticism
7. Eugène Isabey 1803–1886
1803–1886 Born in Paris, France Romanticism 2 originals at the Fondation Custodia
Born into a family steeped in artistic tradition – his father, Jean-Baptiste Isabey, was himself a celebrated painter favored by the imperial court – Isabey’s early life foreshadowed a creative destiny. Isabey's artistic education began under his father’s tutelage, where he diligently absorbed the stylistic principles of Old Masters like Rembrandt and Vermeer.
Originals at the Fondation Custodia
-
Baroque
8. Jan de Bray 1627–1697
1627–1697 Born in Haarlem, Netherlands Baroque 3 originals at the Fondation Custodia
Dutch Golden Age painter of group portraits and portrait historié, known for blending historical scenes with contemporary figures in Haarlem. Siberechts’s father was a sculptor, providing him with an early exposure to the visual arts.
Originals at the Fondation Custodia
-
Baroque
9. Karel Slabbaert 1618–1654
1618–1654 Born in Zierikzee, Netherlands Baroque 2 originals at the Fondation Custodia
Born in 1618 in Zierikzee, his lineage connected him to the broader artistic and social networks of the Low Countries. Slabbaert’s presence in Leiden between 1640 and 1641 marks a critical period of professional development. On 8 April 1645, he became engaged to Cornelia Bouwers, a woman from Rotterdam. By 1653, Slabbaert reached the peak of his local influence when he was appointed Dean of the Guild of St. Luke in Middelburg.
Originals at the Fondation Custodia
-
10. Louis Jules Gustave Caron 1815–1877
1815–1877 2 originals at the Fondation Custodia
Louis Jules Gustave Caron lived a life deeply connected to the shifting light and industrious spirit of the French coast. While his early years remain somewhat obscured by the passage of time, his training likely took place in the artistic hubs of Paris or Poissy. By the 1850s, his presence was felt strongly in the regions of Bordeaux and Arcachon.
Originals at the Fondation Custodia
The house in figures
The masters of the Fondation Custodia, in figures
The masters with the most originals at the Fondation Custodia
Masters with two originals or more, by century of birth
Masters with two originals or more, by country of birth
Masters with two originals or more, by movement
Women masters
The women whose originals hang in the Fondation Custodia
1 women masters, 1 originals, in our catalogue of the Fondation Custodia.
-
Sofonisba Anguissola
1532–1625 · born in Cremona, Italy · 1 originals at the Fondation Custodia
- Self-portrait (1558)
Two houses
The Fondation Custodia or the Louvre: whose originals are where
The Fondation Custodia
- Masters in our catalogue
- 72
- Originals
- 83
- The masters to know
- Jacob van Ruisdael, David Teniers the Younger, Johan Jongkind, Willem Kalf
- Most originals by
- Jan de Bray (3), Jacob van Ruisdael (2), David Teniers the Younger (2)
The Louvre
- Masters in our catalogue
- 695
- Originals
- 2,610
- The masters to know
- Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt, Michelangelo, Albrecht Dürer
- Most originals by
- Pierre-Henri de Valenciennes (101), Eustache Le Sueur (56), Eugène Delacroix (42)
Asked of us
Questions on the masters of the Fondation Custodia
Open a question to read the answer.
Who is the most famous artist in the Fondation Custodia?
Jacob van Ruisdael, with 2 works at the Fondation Custodia in our catalogue (Dunes with a herdsman and his herd and Winter Landscape with a windmill); then David Teniers the Younger and Johan Jongkind.
Which Jacob van Ruisdael works are in the Fondation Custodia?
2 works by Jacob van Ruisdael at the Fondation Custodia are in our catalogue: Dunes with a herdsman and his herd (1650) and Winter Landscape with a windmill (1670) among them.
What did David Teniers the Younger paint that hangs in the Fondation Custodia?
2 works by David Teniers the Younger at the Fondation Custodia are in our catalogue: Portrait of a woman and Portrait of a man (1640) among them.
Which Johan Jongkind works are in the Fondation Custodia?
2 works by Johan Jongkind at the Fondation Custodia are in our catalogue: View of the Seine looking towards the Pont Royal and the Pavillon de Flore (1853) and Rue du Faubourg-Saint-Jacques in Paris (1879) among them.
Which ten artists should I look for in the Fondation Custodia?
The ten best-known artists with works in the Fondation Custodia are Jacob van Ruisdael (2), David Teniers the Younger (2), Johan Jongkind (2), Willem Kalf (2), Willem van de Velde the Younger (2), Nicolaes Pieterszoon Berchem (2), Eugène Isabey (2), Jan de Bray (3), Karel Slabbaert (2) and Louis Jules Gustave Caron (2).
Which painter is most represented in the Fondation Custodia?
Our catalogue holds 3 works by Jan de Bray at the Fondation Custodia; next come Jacob van Ruisdael (2), David Teniers the Younger (2) and Johan Jongkind (2).
Does the Fondation Custodia have any Leonardo da Vinci paintings?
Our catalogue lists no work by Leonardo da Vinci at the Fondation Custodia. For Leonardo da Vinci, see the Louvre: 30 works there.
Does the Fondation Custodia have any Pablo Picasso paintings?
Our catalogue lists no work by Pablo Picasso at the Fondation Custodia.
Which women artists are in the Fondation Custodia?
Our catalogue lists 1 women artists with works at the Fondation Custodia: Sofonisba Anguissola (1).
Should I visit the Fondation Custodia or the Louvre for the painters?
The Fondation Custodia holds works by 72 artists of our catalogue, the Louvre by 695. The best-known artists of the Fondation Custodia are Jacob van Ruisdael, David Teniers the Younger and Johan Jongkind; of the Louvre, Leonardo da Vinci, Rembrandt and Michelangelo.
Which countries are the painters of the Fondation Custodia from?
By country of birth, the artists with two works or more at the Fondation Custodia are mostly from Netherlands (7), Belgium (1) and France (1).
From which period are the artists of the Fondation Custodia?
The 17th century leads with 7 artists born then. In this ranking, David Teniers the Younger (1610–1690) is the earliest born and Johan Jongkind (1819–1891) the latest.
The house
The Fondation Custodia, Paris, in a few lines
A Sanctuary of Shadows and Light
In the heart of Paris’s elegant 7th arrondissement, tucked away from the frenetic energy of the city’s grander institutions, lies a hidden gem that whispers rather than shouts. Stepping through its doors at 121 rue de Lille is akin to entering a private dialogue with history.
The Soul of the Line
While many museums seek to overwhelm with scale, Custodia finds its power in the delicate precision of the hand. Here, one can trace the evolution of European mastery through the meticulous use of line and shade.
The famous originals of the Fondation CustodiaThe Fondation Custodia: the full page, 83 originalsThe museums of Paris
How the masters of the originals are ranked
The masters with two originals or more of the Fondation Custodia in our catalogue are ranked by fame: the Wikipedia language editions that describe them, the visits to their OriginalUniqueArt.com page and our studio's ranking. Originals are counted in our catalogue — one entry per work, without details, studies or copies — not in the museum's inventory. Every date, birthplace and movement is the catalogue's; the notes are drawn from the master's biography.
Go on