Anthony van Dyck

Anthony van Dyck was a prominent Dutch Baroque painter during the 17th century. Van Dyck was born on March 22, 1599, in Antwerp and was the seventh of 12 children of a silk merchant Frans van Dyck. At the age of 10, Anthony became an apprentice of the Antwerp painter Hendrik van Balen for three to four years. In February 1618, Anthony registered as a master in Antwerp’s Saint Luke’s Guild and was already in demand as a portrait painter. There, he worked on his own works depicting religious and mythological scenes, but he also became an assistant of Ruben. He would visit England and would paint for King James I but shortly left and would travel Europe until 1623 where he settled in Genoa. He would return back to Antwerp in 1627 and back to England in 1632 where he would paint for King Charles I and spend his last days there. Van Dyck’s style was quite economical. The pigments were put on thinly which gave his paintings a more mellow feel in colour. He also gave a sensuous appeal to textures like silk, hair, and skin. He was also known for his loose and fluid brush strokes on fabrics and landscapes and was able to execute smooth overtones and intricate details on reflective surfaces. His style was also influenced by Ruben and Titian His famous works include Self-portrait With A Sunflower(1633), Charles I at the Hunt(1635), Samson and Delilah(1630), and Christ Crowned with Thorns(1620). What strikes me interesting with Van Dyck’s work is his ability to create a unique style where he would create astonishing realistic paintings with great details like folds and shiny surfaces, but also giving his paintings a unique look thanks to his brushstrokes. Also, his use of colour where even though the painting looks melancholy, there is still some vibrancy because of the variety of colour that’s in it. And even when the colours are more saturated, he is still able to create a strong image.

A Self-Portrait with a Sunflower(1633)

Samson and Delilah(1630)

Charles I at the Hunt(1635)

Christ Crowned with Thorns(1620)

Cupid and Psyche(1638)

Sources:

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Anthony-Van-Dyck

https://www.nga.gov/collection/artist-info.1259.html

https://www.artble.com/artists/anthony_van_dyck/more_information/style_and_technique

Images:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_van_Dyck