15 Facts About Jacob Huysmans

Jacob Huysmans became a feted court painter and attracted the patronage of the Portuguese born queen Catherine of Braganza, a Catholic like himself, of whom he painted several portraits.

Jacob Huysmans is believed to have been born in Antwerp.

Jacob Huysmans trained in Antwerp and was a pupil of the history painters Gillis Backereel and Frans Wouters.

Jacob Huysmans moved to England, according to some sources before the Restoration in 1660.

Jacob Huysmans subsequently was able to establish himself as a portrait painter at the court of Charles II.

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Jacob Huysmans died in Jermyn Street, London, in 1696, and was buried in St James's Church in Piccadilly, a church for which he had painted an altarpiece in the chapel of the Queen.

Jacob Huysmans' style has been described as exuberant, a quality that made it particularly appealing to the Portuguese-born Queen Catherine.

Jacob Huysmans's palette is characterized by the use of high-keyed colours, reddish lights in the flesh tones, and a smooth, glossy finish.

Jacob Huysmans was particularly skilled in rendering the rich colours and textures of sumptuous clothes worn at the court.

Jacob Huysmans liked showing the interplay of light, colour and contrasting textures, crumpled satin against porcelain skin or glossy ringlets interwoven with jewel-like flowers.

Jacob Huysmans had a preference for depicting his sitters in costume and with props placed in theatrical settings and including allegorical symbols.

Jacob Huysmans painted many of his female sitters as shepherdesses with clothing embellished with embroidery and jewellery.

Jacob Huysmans often depicted female sitters as religious or classical figures.

One of the most important patrons of Jacob Huysmans was Queen Catherine of whom he painted many portraits.

The quantity of portraits Jacob Huysmans painted of the Queen and her maids of honour suggest that he was her principal painter.