painter Jan Vermeer is one of the most famous artists of the so-called Golden Age of Dutch art.He is considered a consummate master of the genre of portrait and genre painting.His name is on a par with the Frans Hals and Rembrandt.Since the place of birth and his death is a town near The Hague, in the Russian tradition of art called Jan Vermeer of Delft.In this article we will look at the life and career of the painter.
Childhood and adolescence
exact date of birth of the artist, we do not know.But he was baptized in the last day of October 1632 in one of the parish churches of Delft.Contrary to all ideas about families with many children at that time, my father had a Vermeer, but the son, a daughter.She was at the birth of his brother twelve years.On Mother's master Digna Baltes, we know almost nothing.Janson Reyneer moved from Antwerp to Amsterdam in 1611 and was engaged in weaving silk.Already married, he migrated to Delft and bought the inn.We do not know the reasons, but for some reason he changed his name and the name.The owner of the hotel "Mechelen" Now was called Reiner van Vos.He has not abandoned weaving and enrolled in the Guild of St. Luke - shop, which united all the workers of art.This "union" in the twenty-first year of life and joined Jan Vermeer, whose paintings a few years shocked the world.
Education
One thing is clear: the son did not go to his father's footsteps and studied weaving silk.Who is he took drawing lessons?After all, in order to become a member of the Guild of St. Luke, it was necessary to earn the title of master.And this, in turn, was preceded by a minimum of six years of study and stay in the status of apprentices.Recording that Jan Vermeer of Delft became a member of the guild, it refers to the end of December 1653.So I decided on a profession and started teaching a teenager in the fifteenth year of life.Who was his teacher?Most critics agree that it could be either Leonart Bramer, Gerard ter Borch either.There is also a version that has not found documentary evidence that the first steps in the art of Jan Vermeer Fine helped Carel Fabritius, a former pupil of Rembrandt.Unconditional influence on the young artist Pieter de Hooch had.Vermeer was succeeded by his style of genre painting in his paintings.But Hooch could not be a teacher of the young genius, because he lived in Delft only in 1652.
Life
still a contender for the position of a free master in the Guild of St. Luke, Jan Vermeer married.His choice was Catharina Bolnes, daughter of a successful businessman, owning a factory for firing bricks near Delft.On the way to marriage lovers waited obstacles, but not of a material nature.The fact that Jan Vermeer was from a Protestant family and his fiancee - from the Catholic.The girl's mother, Maria Bolnes, at first flatly refused the applicant for her daughter's hand.It took the intercession Bramer, also a Catholic, to the heart of the future mother in law softened.The wedding took place April 20, 1653.According to the agreement, the couple moved into the house of the bride.But the artist continued to support his mother, who ran the hotel.In Jan Vermeer and Catharina Bolnes was born fifteen children, but only eleven survived infancy.The artists of that time was often depicted on his canvases wives or lovers.I do not stay away from this trend and Jan Vermeer.The artworks are sometimes portrayed Katarina.For example, we can see her pregnant on canvas "A woman with weights."
Career growth
artist's family was poor.Initially feed the numerous family helped the hotel "Mechelen", located on the main market square of Delft.Artists of the Netherlands do not normally live in misery.Paintings and objects of applied arts were in great demand in the Dutch society.Masters smaller talent currently amassing huge fortunes, drawing on several paintings in a month.But Jan Vermeer did not like to rush.He wrote two paintings during the year.Such sluggishness terribly annoyed his mother in law, but not patrons.They were ready to pay for his paintings a lot of money.The main admirers of the master were Hendrik Van Buyten and Jacob Dissius, baker and publisher of Delft.The fact that Jan Vermeer painting was valued by his contemporaries, evidenced by the fact that the artist was twice elected the dean of the Guild of St. Luke (in 1662-1663 and 1670-1671 respectively).
last years
master of genre painting and valued as an art critic.Linked to this is the only one in the life of Vermeer ride out of town.He would have never left Delft if Frederick William I, Elector Brandenburzhskomu not offered to buy the collection of Roman and Venetian paintings.That drove the artist as an expert in the Hague to authenticate paintings.Preserved notarial deed, which indicates that the master Jacob Jordaens and Jan Vermeer paintings are not considered genuine and worth a tenth of the asking price.With such a favor artist almost ended his days in poverty.In 1672, it started Dutch-French war, which lasted seven years.Art trade froze.Vermeer was forced to take out loans in order to feed the large family.In 1675 the artist became ill and died.His legacy has departed creditors.
Jan Vermeer: the early period of creativity
Young Master has long been under the influence of the Italian Baroque.His early paintings notes monumentality and sublime images.The artist refers to religious subjects ("Christ Mary and her sister Martha").His influence and the Dutch genre painting of the master Pieter de Hooch.His style is found in the continuation and development of the paintings of Vermeer.The most important painting of this period can be called krupnofigurnoe painting "The matchmaker."It is believed that the character on the right - a self-portrait of the artist.Composition paintings "The matchmaker" bright, youthful enthusiasm and full of sensuality.Tone color boldly combined with sonorous patches of pure color.Since the late 1650s the artist changes the way the image.He wrote a small canvas with one or more characters and focuses not so much the story as the general mood and atmosphere of the scene.However, he carefully writes the details thought out lighting that transforms the interior of the small town of the room.Typical of this period are the paintings of "The Girl with the letter", "thrush", "Lace".
Jan Vermeer "Girl with a Pearl Earring»
This is the most famous painting of the artist.It belongs to the Hague Museum, but it almost never catch on the spot - as it often touring the world.A girl depicted in the painting is often called the "North Mona Lisa."Master in this painting reached a peak of his genius.A young girl - like a personification of delicate femininity.All fabric permeated infinite lyricism.Turn heads with unprotected eyes, pearl-blue scarves on a dark background, as it were glowing.Who is depicted in a painting Johannes Vermeer?Girl with a Pearl Earring ... It could be Mary - the eldest daughter of the artist.But, as opponents argue this point of view, the first-born in the family appeared in 1653.Consequently, at the time of the painting (1665), Mary was only twelve.Whatever was young girl in the picture, it is still clearly above the artist's daughter.
late canvases
At the end of the 60s of the seventeenth century the artist changed his style a little bit.Now he has two favorite themes appear.This ladies and gentlemen who are gallant conversation, savor the wine or play music in richly decorated rooms.As an example, "Love Letter" and "a young woman with a guitar."A second theme - people enthusiastic about their work.The inquisitive mind of man depicted in the paintings of "The Astronomer", "Geography", "In the artist's studio."Labor and employment of women - another topic that is drawn at the end of his short life, Jan Vermeer.The paintings "The Lacemaker", "Lady at the spinet," "Woman in Blue Reading a Letter" and "The girl trying on a necklace" - bright swatches of this period of the artist.
