Martin van Meytens

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Martin van Meytens, Self-Portrait, c. 1740s.

Martin van Meytens (June 24, 1695 – March 23, 1770) was a Swedish-Austrian painter who painted members of the royal Court of Austria such as Marie Antoinette, Maria Theresa of Austria, Francis I, Holy Roman Emperor, the Emperor's family and others. His painting style has inspired many other painters to paint in a similar format.

Life and Career

Martin van Meytens was born and baptised in Stockholm, Sweden. He began his artistic studies with his father, the painter Martin Meytens the Elder, who had moved from Hague to Sweden. He went rather early on a study trip. He visited London, Paris and Vienna, then he lived and worked for a long time in Italy (Rome, Turin). At the beginning he painted little enamel miniature portraits, and he changed to oil painting only around 1730, having settled in Vienna. Here he became very popular as a portrait painter in the circles of the court and the aristocracy. In 1732 be became a court painter, and in 1759 the director of the Viennese Academy of Fine Arts. Franz Xaver Messerschmidt was his protégé.

Meytens was one of the most significant Austrian painters of representative Baroque courtly portrait, and through his pupils and followers his influence remained alive and widespread for a long time throughout the whole Empire. His personal virtues, varied interests, erudition and pleasant manners were highly appreciated by his contemporaries.

Works

  • 1741; Kaiser Franz I
  • 1745-1750; Familie der Grafen Pálffy
  • 1752/53; Fam. Grill (Museum Gothenburg)
  • Maria Theresia als Herrscherin 1750-1755 (Schönbrunn Palace)
  • Ksl. Familie, 1754 (Schönbrunn Palace);
  • Maria Theresia, 1759 (Academy of Fine Arts)

References

Media related to Martin van Meytens at Wikimedia Commons

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