Anthony van Dyck

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Sir Anthony (Anton) van Dyck (22 March 1599 – 9 December 1641) was a Flemish artist who became the leading court painter in England. He is most famous for his portraits of royalty, painted with a preternatural facility which set the standard for elegance in the genre. He was also a master of etching.

1 Life
2 Influence
3 See also
4 External links

[edit] Life

Van Dyck was born in Antwerp and became an independent painter in 1615. In his younger years, he was the chief assistant of Peter Paul Rubens. In 1620, he came to England for the first time but did not succeed in getting presented to King James I. After four months he returned to Flanders. He then went to Italy where he remained for 6 years, studying the Italian masters and laying the foundations of his career as a successful portraitist. In 1627, he went back to Antwerp where for some years he painted a host of masterpieces. He was charming to his patrons, which added to his ability to obtain commissions.

His reputation reached the ears of Charles I of England, who recalled him. In 1632, Van Dyck again arrived in London. His success in England was rapid. He painted portraits of King Charles, Queen Henrietta, the king's children, the Earl of Strafford and countless other personages at court, in addition to images of himself and his mistress, Margaret Lemon.

In July 1632, he was knighted, and in 1633 elected painter to the king. He received a considerable pension and married the daughter of Lord Ruthven. In 1634, he took a short journey to Antwerp, and in 1641, another one to France.

In the later part of his life he only gave finishing touches to the portraits which were for the most part painted by his pupils after his own designs.

Anthony van Dyck died in 1641 in London, and was buried in St. Paul's Cathedral.

[edit] Influence

Van Dyck had a great influence on English portrait painting. Therefore, some scholars call him the founder of the English school of painting.

Van Dyck was also known for painting portraits of people having short, pointed beards; consequently this particular kind of beard was named a vandyke (which is the anglicized version of his name). During the reign of George III, a generic "Cavalier" fancy-dress costume called a Van Dyke was popular; Gainsborough's 'Blue Boy' is wearing such a Van Dyke outfit. The oil paint pigment van Dyck brown is named after him [1].

"Self Portrait", ca. 1621 Alte Pinakothek	Charles I of England, ca. 1635	George Digby, 2nd Earl of Bristol, ca. 1638–9	Henrietta Maria of France
Henrietta Anne Stuart