Portrait of Johan de Witt

portrait

During his long stay in Amsterdam Quellinus received many commissions from Amsterdam patrons. Among the most important are the marble portrait busts of Burgomaster Andries de Graeff and the Grand Pensionary, Johan de Witt, in which realism is harmonized with classicist distinction. Johan de Witt (1623-1672) was the Grand Pensionary of Holland.

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About the Artist

Artus I Quellinus

1609 – 1668

Artus (Arnoldus) I Quellinus (or Quellin) was the most distinguished member of a family of Flemish sculptors. He was a pupil of Duquesnoy in Rome. He was back in Antwerp in 1640, then moved to Amsterdam, where from c. 1650 to 1664 he directed the sumptuous sculptural decoration of the Town Hall. His dignified style was singularly appropriate for van Campen's great building, and the decoration forms the most impressive sculptural ensemble of the time in northern Europe. The high quality of his portrait busts can be seen in the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. His collaborators at Amsterdam Town Hall included his cousin, Artus II Quellinus (1625-1700), whose independent work was more Baroque in style.

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