An interesting oil on wood depicting the self-portrait of a painter with his palette and a book in an Alcove.
Our painting is perfectly served by its beautiful original gilded wood frame.
Flemish school of the late 18th or early 19th century, circa 1790-1820, follower of Willem Van Mieris.
Sizes unframed: H 12.79 In. - W 9.44 In.
Sizes with frame: H 18.50 In. - W 14.96 In.
In fine original condition, it is served by its beautiful 19th-century carved wood and gilded stucco frame.
Biography:
Willem van Mieris was a Dutch painter born in Leiden in 1662 and died in the same city in 1747.
Born into a family of painters and the younger brother of Jan van Mieris, Willem was the youngest son of Frans van Mieris the Elder (1635-1681), whose lessons he benefited from.
In 1683, he joined the Saint Luke's Guild in Leiden, and in 1684 married Agneta Schapmann.
In 1694, he founded the Leiden Academy of Drawing, which he co-directed with Karel de Moor until 17361. He became Guild commissioner in 1697-1698 and dean in 1699-1700.
His pupils included his son Franz van Mieris le Jeune (1689-1763), who completed his paintings, and Herman van der Myn (1684-1741).
In old age, he lost his sight and died in his native town at the age of eighty-five.