Frans van Mieris

In the 17th century, he was one of the most successful painters of his time: Frans van Mieris, also known as Frans van Mieris the Elder, as his grandson of the same name was also a painter. Van Mieris was a phenomenon, a technically proficient painter with a unique color palette, and he had an excellent network in Leiden and beyond.

The Life of Frans van Mieris

Frans van Mieris was born on April 16, 1635, in Leiden, the city he would remain closely connected to until his death in 1681. He came from a prominent family; his father was a famous goldsmith who had influential connections in early 17th-century Leiden. So, at a young age, Frans already had a strong network in his hometown.

Frans van Mieris' father, Jan Bastiaanszoon van Mieris, initially intended to train his son as a goldsmith to take over the family business. However, Frans' artistic talents quickly became apparent. Art enthusiast Willem van Heemskerk, known as a poet and engraver, convinced Frans van Mieris' father to consider a different career path for his son. Eventually, Frans became an apprentice painter. His master was none other than Gerard Dou, who considered him the prince of his pupils, his most outstanding student.

In 1657, Frans van Mieris married Cunera van der Cock, affectionately known as Kniertje. He painted her multiple times, so her face is well-known to us. Like Frans, she had a strong connection to the city of Leiden. It was likely due, in part, to her that Frans van Mieris declined an enticing offer to work in Vienna. This offer demonstrates that Frans van Mieris was already gaining the attention of art enthusiasts, possibly thanks to Gerard Dou's compliment.

Frans van Mieris exceeded the expectations set for him. He achieved great success, with his work selling throughout Europe at high prices; for his painting "Officer in the Cloth Shop," he received double the price paid for "The Night Watch." Van Mieris could make a living from his art. His sons and his grandson Frans would also become painters.

Frans van Mieris was good friends with Jan Steen, and as drinking buddies, they enjoyed a dubious reputation in 17th-century Leiden. Van Mieris once got so drunk that he nearly drowned in a sewer. He was saved by a cobbler and his wife, and he thanked them with a painting worth 800 guilders (equivalent to around 10,000 euros in today's terms).

Works by Frans van Mieris

Frans van Mieris was a true fine painter, known for his meticulous precision and remarkable technical skills. The emphasis on detail was a hallmark of the Leiden school, following Gerard Dou's tradition. Remarkably, Frans van Mieris was highly skilled in realistically capturing fabrics, which are notoriously challenging to paint. He must have dedicated significant effort to perfecting this during his training, as these finely painted fabrics are present even in his earliest works.

Van Mieris' genre paintings are often subdued, featuring only a few figures on the canvas. This allows the viewer to feel present in an intimate moment, a similar effect seen in the works of Vermeer. Like his friend Jan Steen, Frans van Mieris had a keen eye for human behavior and double entendres.

One notable aspect of Frans van Mieris' work is his use of color. The colors in his palette are often strikingly intense but not overly bright. Sharp contrasts, as seen in Vermeer's work, are less prevalent in Van Mieris' paintings. Frans van Mieris' paintings often exude warmth, with colors lovingly harmonized.

Frans van Mieris & the fun part of art

The fun part of art adds color to our history. Through videos, the individuals so masterfully painted by Frans van Mieris come to life in an engaging manner. Once you know what to look for, you can appreciate Frans van Mieris' paintings just as much as his contemporaries did. They knew what _the fun part of art _was all about.