Jan van der Heyden (1637-1712)
Van der Heyden spent most of his life in Amsterdam. Initially a landscape painter, he later turned to architectural scenes and became the foremost townscape painter of his generation. Town squares and imposing buildings on clear, bright days, with every detail meticulously rendered, were his speciality. Works like this view of Brussels reflect the Dutch love of paintings of everyday scenes and were highly popular in Holland. This townscape was probably painted during the 1660s. The palace, seat of government and chief residence of the Dukes of Burgundy, was largely destroyed by fire in 1731.
Image: Jan van der Heyden (1637-1712)
A View of the Palace of the Dukes of Brabant, Brussels (U644)
Painted possibly 1660s
Accepted in lieu of inheritance tax from the estate of Nicholas Phillips by H.M. Government and allocated to the National Museums and Galleries of Northern Ireland, 1998.
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