Biography
• 1941Born in Haarlem, the son of a manufacturer. | ||
• 1955 - 1956Receives drawing and painting lessons from Gerrit van't Net in Amsterdam. At 16 years old his ambition is to become a commercial artist. | ||
• 1958 - 1963Lithographer Aart van Dobbenburgh advices Verkade to apply to the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague. By accident he is admitted to the sculpture department. During his studies he draws advertisements for the Zandvoortse Courant newspaper and other periodicals. In the end, modelling the human form becomes more important to him than drawing. Whilst at the Academy he starts to receive commissions to design reliefs, plaques and presentation pieces. | ||
• 1964Exhibition debut in the Vishal in Haarlem. 'Mother and Child' is bought by the Frans Hals museum. | ||
• 1965Exhibition in the Vleeshal, Haarlem. The Frans Hals museum acquires 'Pitcher' (baseball). He settles in Zandvoort where he exhibits and has his studio. He also produces a bust of Sir Winston Churchill this year. | ||
• 1966First monumental commission for Haarlem local authority. 'Going into Town' is placed in the Grote Houtstraat. | ||
• 1967Sport and games are his inspiration for smaller sculptures. Girl vaulting over a post stands at a school in Haarlem. | ||
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