Govert Flinck
(January 25, 1615 - February 2, 1660) |
|
portraiture, landscapes, allegories, historical narratives Art Work
| Name: |
Govert Flinck |
| Gender: |
Male |
| Place of Birth: |
Cleves, Netherlands |
| Nationality: |
Dutch |
| Birth: |
January 25, 1615 |
| Death: |
February 2, 1660 |
| Website: |
|
| Past Auctions: |
Click Here |
|
|
Quick Facts
| Known For: |
portraiture, landscapes, allegories, historical narratives |
| Medium: |
oil painting |
| Method: |
oil painting |
| Style: |
Dutch Golden Age |
| Fine Art Profession(s): |
Painter
|
|
|
Biography
A highly successful history and portrait painter in seventeenth century Amsterdam, Govert is best known for obtaining the largest commission ever awarded to a seventeenth century Dutch artist, the twelve paintings for the new Town Hall of Amsterdam depicting the history of the Batavians and Romans. Awarded in 1659 to Flinck two months before his death, the commission was thereupon divided among several artists, including Rembrandt. Originally apprenticed to a silk merchant, Flinck was permitted to study painting, around 1630, with Lambert Jacobsz, who took him north to Leeuwarden. There he met Jacob Backer, already apprenticed to Jacobsz, and the two set out together for Amsterdam.
Flinck may have lived with the Uylenburghs, through whom he met Rembrandt. Houbraken says he spent one year with Rembrandt and that he learned to imitate that master's style so well that Rembrandt was able to sell his pupil's work as his own. Modern scholars conjecture that Flinck's apprenticeship actually lasted until about 1635-1636. The earliest known autographed works by Flinck come from 1636, the year in which he established his independence as a painter.
From the 1640s on, Flinck was in demand as a portrait painter, with contracts from patrons in Amsterdam and Germany. His marriage in 1645 to Ingertje Inghitta Thoveling raised his social and economic position. He built a large studio and assembled an impressive collection of Greek and Roman sculpture, among other precious objects. Ingertje died in 1649.
Flinck married Sophia van der Hoeven in 1656, whose father was a director of the East India Company, further enhancing his social prominence. Flinck parlayed these connections into many successful commissions, the most ambitious of which was the 1659 commission for a twelve picture cycle depicting the history of the Batavians, for the Amsterdam Town Hall.
Flinck died in 1660. Flinck's work is considered at its best level while still under Rembrandt's influence,an influence that lasted until the latter part of the 1640s. His oeuvre, mainly portraits, group portraits, allegories, including allegorical portraits, histories, and occasional landscapes, shifted away from Rembrandt's approach in the 1640s. |
Samples of Work
|
|
