Abraham Janssens
Encyclopedia
Abraham Janssens van Nuyssen (ca. 1567/1576 - 1632) was a Flemish Baroque
painter
.
He was born at Antwerp, in a year variously reported between 1567 and 1576. He studied under Jan Snellinck
, was a master in 1602, and in 1607 was dean of the master-painters. He died in the city of his birth.
Till the appearance of Rubens he was considered perhaps the best historical painter of his time. The styles of the two artists are not unalike. In correctness of drawing Janssens excelled his great contemporary; in bold composition and in treatment of the nude he equalled him; but in faculty of color and in general freedom of disposition and touch he fell far short. A master of chiaroscuro
, he gratified his taste for strong contrasts of light and shade in his torchlights and similar effects. Good examples of this master are to be seen in the Antwerp museum and the Vienna gallery. The stories of his jealousy of Rubens and of his dissolute life are quite unfounded.
His students include Gerard Seghers
and Theodoor Rombouts
.
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
painter
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
.
He was born at Antwerp, in a year variously reported between 1567 and 1576. He studied under Jan Snellinck
Jan Snellinck
Jan Snellinck was a Flemish artist and art collector.-Biography:A notable pupil of Snellinck was Abraham Janssens. According to Houbraken, he was overlooked by Karel van Mander, but he was a notable painter from Mechelen, famous in his day among royalty for his heroic paintings of battle scenes...
, was a master in 1602, and in 1607 was dean of the master-painters. He died in the city of his birth.
Till the appearance of Rubens he was considered perhaps the best historical painter of his time. The styles of the two artists are not unalike. In correctness of drawing Janssens excelled his great contemporary; in bold composition and in treatment of the nude he equalled him; but in faculty of color and in general freedom of disposition and touch he fell far short. A master of chiaroscuro
Chiaroscuro
Chiaroscuro in art is "an Italian term which literally means 'light-dark'. In paintings the description refers to clear tonal contrasts which are often used to suggest the volume and modelling of the subjects depicted"....
, he gratified his taste for strong contrasts of light and shade in his torchlights and similar effects. Good examples of this master are to be seen in the Antwerp museum and the Vienna gallery. The stories of his jealousy of Rubens and of his dissolute life are quite unfounded.
His students include Gerard Seghers
Gerard Seghers
Gerard Seghers , also Zegers, was a Flemish Baroque painter and one of the leading Caravaggisti in the Southern Netherlands.-Biography:...
and Theodoor Rombouts
Theodoor Rombouts
Theodoor Rombouts was a Flemish Baroque painter specializing in Caravaggesque genre scenes of card players and musicians.-Biography:...
.