In 1805 he started working as a drawing teacher at the artillery and engineering college in Amersfoort. He was also one of the first Dutch artists to paint contemporary historical events rather than scenes from the 17th century. Pieneman’s knowledge and expertise stood out, and he was appointed as the first director of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Amsterdam. In 1844 he added another impressive role to his repertoire when he became director of the Rijksmuseum. Today his inspirational influence can be seen in the work of the entire generation of artists whom he taught.
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