Died 1790, Antwerp, Belgium | Artwork Operation | |
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Children Jan Josef Horemans the Younger | ||
Jan Josef Horemans the Elder (1682–1759) was a Flemish painter of the 18th-century. He was mainly known for his genre scenes but he also painted portraits and historical allegories.
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Life
He was born in Antwerp and became the pupil of the painters Jan van Pee and Michiel Frans van der Voort.
In 1706 he became master in the Antwerp Guild of St. Luke as a pupil of Michiel Frans van der Voort]. The next year he married his teacher's daughter Maria-Francisca. Their son Jan Josef Horemans the Younger also became a painter.
He was the teacher of his younger brother Peter Jacob and his son Jan Josef. He died in Antwerp.
Work
He is known for portraits, genre works, and historical allegories. He produced large number of small anecdotal pictures that were executed in the tradition of 17th-century Flemish genre painters. His colours were rather dark and he was later nicknamed 'le brun' and 'le sombre' to distinguish him from the work of his son who was nicknamed 'le clair' for his clearer palette.
Jan Josef Horemans was the leading chronicler of everyday life in Antwerp in the first half of the 18th century. He used various tricks of composition to present a vivid account of episodes in private houses, inns and courtyards. His scenes from contemporary everyday life combine observation but are executed with a certain stiffness.
His works were highly prized on the market. Most of his paintings are signed.