Born in Antwerp on March 22, 1599, the Anthony van Dyk (Anthony van Dyck) was the seventh child of Fran Van Dyk, a silk bigger. Anthony showed his abilities in painting From a very young age, and since his adolescence he was painting professionally. It is noteworthy that by 1615-1616 he is alleged to have created his own workshop, painting religious and mythological scenes of his own inspiration.
Between July and November 1620, Van Dyke made his first trip to England. His life and work at that time are not known in detail, however, it seems that He was in the service of King Jacob I. At that time, he even designed the portraits of Thomas Howard, the 2nd Count of Arundel, and Cipio Christford Villiers, later the 1st Duke of Buckingham – the main, that is, the prostate of the arts in England at that time.
Its portraits were sought after by the most important families in Antwerp, and also received many orders for churches.
In 1621, he abandoned England to travel to another important country for painting: Italy. On November 20, 1621, he arrived in Genoa, the first Italian port to visit. Next year he spent eight months in Rome while at the same time doing Short visits to Florence, Bologna, Venice, Padua, Madova and Milan. In the spring and summer of 1624 he worked in Palermo. In addition to a trip he allegedly made to Marseille and Aix-En-Provence the following year, Van Dyk remained in Genoa until his return to Antwerp in 1627.
In his hometown, the Flemish painter was extremely productive. Its portraits were sought after by the most important families in the city, including Archbishop Isabella. Van Dyk also received many orders of large works intended for churches. Typical examples are The two works he designed for the Brotherhood of the Jesuits of the City Workersa popular fraternity in which he had joined 1628.
In London, he was named a painter of the court of King Charles I, and he would be awarded the title of the knight.
In the winter of 1631-32, he traveled to The Hague, where he worked for both the Prince of Orang, Frederico-Herric, and for Frederick I of Palatinatos and his wife, Elizabeth Stewart.
Then there would be another important station: London. There, on July 5, 1632, named Painter of King Charles’ courtyard a΄, while the knight’s title would be awarded. In the English capital, he designed numerous portraits of aristocrats, nobles and scholars, as well as religious works.
He returned to his hometown for the last time a few months after Rubens’ death on May 30, 1640, now as the undisputed head of the Flemish school. However, soon his health worse. In May of the following year he returned to London. He continued to work, but with great difficulty. Seriously ill, after a brief presence in Paris, Van Dyk would spend the last life of his life in the English capital. There, on December 1, 1640, his wife, Mary Ruthvenwith whom he was married on February 27, 1639, gave birth to their only daughter. But he would not live for much longer to enjoy his family. Three days later Antoni Van Dyk made his will, and on December 9, 1641, he left his last breath. He was buried two days later in St. Paul. His tomb, however, was destroyed 25 years later in the great fire of London in 1666.
Column: Myrto Katsigera, Vassilis Minakakis, Antigoni-Despina Poumenidou, Athanasios Syroplakis
