Jan Davidsz De Heem Biography | Oil Painting Reproductions

Jan Davidsz de Heem first studied with his father David de Heem the Elder, then under Balthasar van der Ast. From 1625 to 1629 he lived in Leiden and studied with David Bailly in 1629.

He moved to the southern Netherlands and joined the Guild of Saint Luke of Antwerp in 1636 and became a Burgher of that city in 1637. His talent gained him a reputation and he had trouble satisfying the demand with his colorful still lifes. Jan Davidsz de Heem was considered one of the greatest painters of his time.

He remained in Antwerp until 1667 when he moved back to Utrecht. He left Utrecht in 1671 when French troops were moving to capture the city.

Jan Davidsz de Heem married twice, first with Alette van Weede with whom he had three children on her death in 1643, one of which, Cornelis, would become a still-life painter. He then married a second time in 1644 to Anna Catherina Ruckers with whom he had six more children, one of whom was Jan who would also become a still-life painter.

Apart from his two sons, he had several apprentices. Of the one hundred or more Jan Davidsz de Heem paintings seen in European galleries and museums, only 18 are dated.

Art Movement: Dutch Golden Age.
Artists Influencing Jan Davidsz de Heem: David de Heem, Balthasar van der Ast, David Bailly.
Painters Jan Davidsz de HeemInfluenced: Cornelis and Jan de Heem, Michiel Verstylen, Alexander Coosemans, Thomas de Klerck, Lenaert Rougghe.
Artist's Biography compiled by Albert L. Mansour at The World's Artist, with text adapted from Wikipedia.