Jan Sanders Van Hemessen Biography
Jan Sanders van Hemessen, Flemish Renaissance painter, was born in Hemessen (or Heymissen) in 1519. After studying in Italy, in 1524 he moved to Antwerp where he joined the painters' guild. His works are typical mannerist, with particular attention to man's vices such as greed and vanity. He also had success as a portrait painter, like his daughter Caterina van Hemessen.
His images range from religious representations to portraits, contributing to the foundation of the Flemish genre painting tradition of the 1500s. In his early works, the influences of Aertsen Mannerism can be seen. However, his ironic and popular streak emerged in works such as “The Crucifixion” of 1535. He was also the author of some satirical works similar to those of Metsys starting from 1540.
In the following years, he increasingly approached mannerist solutions, such as with "The Virgin with Landscape and St. Gerolamo" of 1543, inspired by Raphael. He continued to experiment with sharp contrasts of color and light, which brought him closer to the taste of the baroque. Among his most famous works is the painting "The Surgeon" from 1555, currently housed in the Prado Museum in Madrid.
Van Hemessen died in 1556 in Haarlem.
