Note: Gerard van Honthorst (1592-1656) was a Dutch Golden Age painter. Born in Utrecht, early in his career he travelled to Rome where he discovered the work of Caravaggio and quickly embraced his dramatic style. These dark paintings caused such a sensation that he earned the nickname Gherardo delle Notti (Gerard of the Night Scenes). His importance in spreading knowledge and appreciation of Caravaggio's work to the North should not be underestimated. He returned home around 1620 and soon adopted a new approach, a much lighter palette. In 1628 he travelled to England to paint the Royal Family and from this point on he worked in a court style, painting portraits at the Hague and earning an international reputation for his work.
Provenance: Torridon House, Home of The Earls of Lovelace. Click here for further information: http://bit.ly/1MmigxQ