Anthony van Dyck (1599-1641)As a Flemish painter and etcher Anthony van Dyck was second only to Rubens. In fact he worked at the latter's studio for a period in his youth. Van Dyck was an influential painter of portraits and religious scenes. He portrayed a series of burghers and courtiers, his greatest patron being the English king, Charles I. Between 1621 and 1627 Van Dyck travelled and worked in Italy, especially in Genoa. His paintings reveal the particular influence of Venetian art. On his return, Van Dyck worked in Flanders for some years, until he suddenly took off for London in 1632. There he became one of the most sought-after artists of the English court. The years leading up to his death in 1641 were spent commuting between England and the Low Countries. |
