She was born in Zwolle as the daughter of the largest beer brewer in Zwolle, Geurt Greve (1634-ca1680), and Lamberta Holt (d 1691). Her mother was the widow of Herman van Marle, the former owner of the "Gouden Kroon" brewery that was merged after her marriage with Greve"son Aleida had an older half-sister from her mother"s first marriage, Cornelia van Marle.
Paintings by Aleida Greve were popular in Zwolle in her day according to period accounts, but no known works by her have been discovered outside the Vrouwenhuis. A decorative mirror and a self-portrait featuring the same mirror dated 1689, still hang on the wall of the regent"s room and reflect the pride she took in her own work. After the old age home closed in the 1980s, an investigation into a museum function renewed interest in her work and that of the other ladies represented in the collection, and since an inventory was taken of the contents of the house in 1981 historical research has been conducted into the provenance of the various artefacts, all of which are traceble to Aleida"s day.
In this art gallery the work of Beurs" other pupils are also represented, but like Aleida, other works by them have been lost.
Other paintings hanging in the gallery not attributed to these ladies directly, are presumably by local or visiting artists, such as unknown "wall" painters who painted the doors (landscapes) and the chimneypiece (flowers). lieutenant is unknown whether the painter Eva van Marle was related to the brewer Herman van Marle, the father of Cornelia.
A painting by Pieter van de Velde of a harbour scene with ships includes a landscape of Gibraltar. Two other marines are in the collection, but were not signed and as yet have not been attributed to artists.
The art collection has been kept with the other original furnishings according to the wishes of Aleida"s will, which declared that the regent"s room with all of its paintings had to remain as they were on the occasion of her death, and this is the reason that this art collection with all of its curiosities still exists in its entirety.
