Jan Frans van Douven
Jan Frans van Douven, or Johan Francois Douven (2 March 1656, in Roermond – 1727, in Düsseldorf) was a Southern Netherlandish portrait painter belonging to the Dutch Leyden School.[1] Born in Roermond, he spent most of his life as Court painter in Düsseldorf, now in Germany, where he created most of his works.
Life and career
According to Houbraken, his father Gerard Douven was a canon priest in the Roermond chapter and had spent several years in Rome, where he learned to appreciate art. He gave his enthusiasm to his son taught him Latin by age eleven and some art techniques. His father died young however (aged 33), and his mother apprenticed him for two years in Liege under the supervision of the painter Gabriel Lambertin (who had also studied in Rome). When his cousin, the painter Chistopher Puitlink, returned from his Rome journey, the young Johan studied with him. His work was noticed by Don Jan Dellano Velasco, the minister of finance in Roermond for Charles II of Spain. He spent 3 years working for him, copying the works of Roman painters for his large painting cabinet.[2]
According to the
Van Douven also travelled to Vienna, accompanying the Elector Palatine on a journey. On this occasion he painted the portraits of the Emperor and the Empress. He also painted portraits of other princes and aristocrats or celebrities, such as the renowned musician Arcangelo Corelli.
Works (selection)
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Portrait of Jan Wellem
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Portrait of Jan Wellem
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Portrait of Anna Maria Luisa de' Medici
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Portrait of Anna Maria Luisa de' Medici in hunting dress
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Elector Palatine and his wife in Spanish costumes, dancing
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Portrait of Karl III Philipp von der Pfalz
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Portrait ofCosimo III de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany
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Portrait of Arcangelo Corelli
References
- ^ Museum kunst palast, Düsseldorf: Jan Wellem Year[permanent dead link]
- ^ Johan Francois Douven biography in De groote schouburgh der Nederlantsche konstschilders en schilderessen (1718) by Arnold Houbraken, courtesy of the Digital Library for Dutch Literature
- ^ RKD.
External links
- Biografias y Vidas: Jan Frans van Douven
- International Auctioneers: Jan Frans van Douven