Gerard van Honthorst (also known as Gerard van Honthorst and in Italy as Gherardo delle Notti for his nighttime candlelit subjects) was the most important Dutch Caravaggist of the 17th century.
Born on November 04, 1590 in Utrecht.
Died on April 17, 1656 in Utrecht.
In 1610, after his education with Abraham Bloemaert, Gerard van Honthorst went to Rome, where he became acquainted with the work of Caravaggio, whose style he then adapted for his painting. While in his early work, he was dealing with night scenes illuminated by indirect light, Gerard van Honthorst changed to genre paintings from 1622, and three years later, even to mythological representations in the neo-classical style.
His style was just as versatile as his clients were: before being working at the London Royal Court from 1628, he worked as a painter at the court of Prince Frederic Hendric of Orange. In 1637, he moved back to the Netherlands in order to work for the governor of The Hague. |
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Oil Paintings