Jan Victors
(June 13, 1619 - 1676) |
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Portraits, Religious Subject matter, Genre subjects Art Work
| Name: |
Jan Victors |
| Gender: |
Male |
| Place of Birth: |
Amsterdam |
| Nationality: |
Dutch |
| Birth: |
June 13, 1619 |
| Death: |
1676 |
| Website: |
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| Past Auctions: |
Click Here |
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Quick Facts
| Known For: |
Portraits, Religious Subject matter, Genre subjects |
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| Method: |
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| Style: |
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| Fine Art Profession(s): |
Painting
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Biography
| Grouped with the students of Rembrandt, whose narrative style he followed, Jan Victors's connections with that master are established mainly by his work and not by documents, of which very few survive. Identified as Jan, Johannes, or Victors by his signatures (he also signed himself Victoors and Victor), Jan was half-brother to the bird painter Jacobus (Jacomo) Victor. Born in Amsterdam, Jan was baptized on 13 June 1619. He probably studied with Rembrandt between 1635 and 1640, or around the time when Jacob Backer,* Ferdinand Bol,* and Govert Flinck* were Rembrandt's pupils. In 1642 Jan married Jannetje Bellers, and the couple had nine children. Jannetje died in 1661. Jan is recorded in Amsterdam until 1676, when he joined an expedition to the Dutch East Indies as a sieckentrooster (caretaker of the ill). He died enroute or upon arrival. Between about 1640 and the early 1650s, Jan concentrated on portraits and large-scale biblical scenes that follow Rembrandt's themes and narrative style. However, Jan's histories are more literal, his characters in the dramas more self-conscious and theatrical, (as well as repeated stock types) his compositions more obvious, and his relationships with the viewer more direct or simplistic. He tended to concentrate his figures in the foreground, sometimes directing either their gaze or their gestures to the onlooker. The viewer is clearly a component in many of his compositions; the painter often leaves room for the onlooker in the circle formed by the actors on his painted stage. A fine example is Jacob Seeking Forgiveness of Esau (signed and dated 1652, Indianapolis Museum of Art). Inspired also by Lastman and by Rembrandt's close followers, Jan has been likened to other masters of grand-scale scenes: Aelbert Cuyp, Jan Lievens, Abraham van den Tempel, Gabriel Metsu, and Pieter de Grebber. After the late 1640s Victors abandoned his biblical narratives, turning instead to genre scenes with tradesmen - butchers, dentists, vendors, and so forth - practicing their trades. Jan's genre subjects sometimes fall short of the quality found in his biblical scenes, but other examples are considered among his most original works and may have inspired the contemporary imagery of Nicolaes Maes. |
Samples of Work
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