Willem Wissing facts for kids

Willem Wissing, known in England as William Wissing (1656 – 10 September 1687), was a talented Dutch artist who specialized in painting portraits. He became very famous in England during his time.

Early Life and Artistic Journey

Willem Wissing was born in either Amsterdam or The Hague, two important cities in the Netherlands. He began his art studies there, learning from experienced painters like Willem Doudijns and Arnoldus van Ravestyn. In 1676, when he was about 20 years old, he moved to England. There, he continued to learn and work with Sir Peter Lely, who was a very well-known portrait painter at the time.

Becoming a Top Portrait Artist

After Peter Lely passed away in 1680, Willem Wissing quickly became recognized as his most important student. He was so skilled that only one other artist in England, Godfrey Kneller, was considered his rival. Wissing painted many important people, including King Charles II, Queen Catherine of Braganza, Prince George of Denmark, and James Scott, the Duke of Monmouth.

Royal Commissions and Legacy

In 1685, King James II of England sent Wissing to the Netherlands. His mission was to paint portraits of the King's son-in-law and daughter, who would later become King William III and Queen Mary II. These royal portraits were very popular and were often copied. You can still see versions of them today in the Wren Building at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia.

A Short but Famous Life

Willem Wissing died in 1687, when he was at the peak of his fame. He passed away at Burghley House, a large estate near Stamford in Lincolnshire. Some people wondered if jealousy of his great success played a part in his early death. A famous saying about him was Immodicis brevis est aetas, which means "Brief is the life of the outstanding." He was buried in St Martin's Church in Stamford.

Continuing the Workshop

Another Dutch artist, Jan van der Vaart, worked with Wissing. Van der Vaart often helped by painting the clothes and backgrounds in Wissing's portraits. After Wissing's death, Jan van der Vaart continued to run the art workshop, keeping Wissing's style alive. Many of Wissing's portraits were also shared widely through a printing method called mezzotint, which helped more people see his amazing work.

Gallery

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  Portrait of Queen Anne (private collection)

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  Portrait of Henrietta and Mary Hyde. c. 1683

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  Portrait of William III when Prince of Orange (National Portrait Gallery)

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  Portrait of a Boy with Dog attrib. to Wissing (Yale Center for British Art)

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  Portrait of Elizabeth Jones, Countess of Kildare, attrib. to Wissing c. 1684 (Yale Center for British Art)

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  Posthumous Portrait of James Stuart, Duke of Cambridge, 1676-87 (Royal Collection)

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  Portrait of James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde

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  Portrait of James Scott, Duke of Monmouth and Buccleuch (National Portrait Gallery)

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  Portrait of Isabella, Duchess of Grafton (Sotheby's)

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  Portrait of Catherine of Braganza, Queen of England (Necessidades Palace, Lisbon)

Images for kids

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  Willem Wissing, Portrait of Laurence Hyde, 1st Earl of Rochester, c. 1685-7, Holburne Museum of Art