Michiel Jansz. van MiereveldVan Miereveld was a pupil of the Utrecht painter Anthonie Blocklandt. After two years of study, he returned to his native Delft. As a portrait painter he received commissions from the court of the Stadholder in The Hague: painting Prince Maurice and members of his family. Soon other well-to-do families and foreign diplomats were requesting his services. To meet the demand, he employed assistants, including his sons Pieter and Jan. Van Miereveld's portraits became even better known when his son-in-law copied them as prints. Eventually, however, his glory faded and the painter Gerrit van Honthorst took the spotlight. |
