Jan van Bijlert

Jan van Bijlert belongs to the Utrecht painters who brought Caravaggio’s style home from Rome. His early pictures crop close on half-length figures, musicians, drinkers and shepherdesses, lit by strong light against dark backgrounds and painted with frank realism.

He was born in Utrecht around 1597, the son of a glass painter, and trained with Abraham Bloemaert. He spent about four years in Italy and France, and in 1621 was a founding member of the Bentvueghels, the club of Dutch and Flemish artists in Rome. Back in Utrecht by 1625, he joined the painters’ guild and served as its deacon. Around 1630 his style changed to lighter colour and a cooler, more classical finish, and he also painted many portraits of Utrecht citizens, some 200 works in all. He died in Utrecht in 1671.

Musical Company and A Shepherdess show both sides: the lively subjects of the Caravaggists and his own smooth, clear colour.