- Date of birth: 31 October 1632
- Date of death: 15 Dec 1675
- Country: Holland
Biography:
Dutch artist who worked in the 17th century, almost forgotten in the 18th, and again flashed his genius at the end of the 19th century is Jan Vermeer (or Jan Tu Delft). When biographers begin to collect documents and materials about him, that he will get a well-deserved nickname of “SKIF Delft”, because, like the mythological Sphinx, his life story remains silent about his past.
In his study the biography of many white spots, few reliable, documented information. Even more is known about his family, parents and mother-in-law, than about some facts of the artist’s life.
It is known that Yang was born in October 1632 in Delft, in the district of South Holland, in the family of a successful merchant, craftsman (father Ian was engaged in the weaving), and subsequently the landlord of a coaching Inn. A known fact also that he was the second child and only son of his parents.
There is no data about how he grew up, where he studied. It is anticipated that Ian only played in the Hague, and all his life he lived in Delft, which he loved and often painted. Local views of the city depicted by Vermeer, look serene, beautiful, peaceful.
The year 1653 marked by such milestones in the life of Johannes Vermeer as marriage and entry into the local Guild of St. Luke, where he was a master of painting. In April 1653 he married a girl from neighboring village, they had lived their life, and they had 11 children.
By the way, to marry Ian even had to change religion with a Calvinist-Protestant on Catholic. Only after that, his future mother-in-law Maria Tins gave consent to the marriage. By the way, she was fond of collecting paintings and her collection of works by artists belonging to the Utrecht school of painting, was very good.
Family life Vermeer was successful, in the 60’s, they moved the entire extended family to live in house mother-in-law. The head of the family not only draws pictures, but also helps the mother to manage the tavern, and to sell art.
In December 1653 he became a member of the society of St. Luke. But to be accepted in him, the artist must have been at least 6 years to learn from any artist who is already in Guild.
Unfortunately, there is no precise information about the teacher of Jan Vermeer. Presumably, it could be Gerard Ter Borch (because his style can be traced in the works of Vermeer, as well as the style of Pieter de Hooch), and perhaps it was the artists L. Brahmer or K. Fabricius.
Jan Vermeer paints not only portraits, genre scenes and interiors. In addition, in 1663 and 1671, he is the leader of the Guild of St. Luke, and it has the weight as an expert and the expert to establish the authenticity of art objects.
There is an assumption that the question of attribution of the collection of Italian paintings the Vermeer had once to travel to the Hague in 1672.
Of his paintings the artist paints not a lot, about two or three works a year. But for them, he gets decent fees and may contain his large family. The painter has not only customers, but loyal admirers of his work. It is known that in the collection of the typographer Jacob Dissius there were 19 works by Jan Vermeer.
He died a great artist very early of a heart attack, he was 43 years old. Most likely, this was due to a critically difficult financial situation, which occurred in the family of the artist, in connection with the economic and political situation in the country. As is known, in 1672, war broke Holland with France, whereby, of course, stopped creative life, the painting did not need anyone.
He had to take loans and credits, but is not saved from the crisis. He died suddenly, leaving his family in fairly poor condition, and was buried in the family vault.
What attracted today the work of this unusual artist? It would seem that he paints ordinary scenes: girl pouring milk, reading letters, or wearing necklaces, gallant knights, musicians and other characters. And the fact that they are all full of love, comfort and peace, artist paint soft and delicate, extremely masterfully writes the author of light and mood and character are transmitted with great art.
Today the paintings of Jan Veermata is not much known – only 34. And over the five works yet critics lead the debate on the establishment of their facilities famous artist.