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Anthony Van Dyck (van DIKE) was a renowned Flemish painter born in Antwerp, which was a main port in the Netherlands. His father was a wealthy businessman who bought and sold beautiful fabrics such as silk, satin, and velvet.
He was named after his grandfather, Antoon Van Dyck the Elder who was an artist in Antwerp. He was the seventh of twelve children in the family. His mother Maria died three weeks after Anthony's seventh birthday.
Anthony Van Dyck self-portrait
At age ten he was apprenticed to a painter, and by age nineteen he himself was a teacher. Later he began working with Peter Paul Rubens. Rubens became like a second father to him. In a couple of years he had advanced to the position of Ruben's assistant. Van Dyck became so skilled, it was sometimes hard to tell whether a painting had been done by him, or by his master, Rubens.
He went to Italy to study and paint. King Charles I (the First) heard about him and how well he painted and called him back to England. In 1632 he became the chief painter for the king. King Charles was so pleased with his work, he knighted him and he became Sir Anthony Van Dyck. He lived an extravagant lifestyle. His income was enormous, but he spent money freely. It was at the king's suggestion he married Mary Ruthven, who was related to the royal family.
Toward the end of his life he began craving more and more money. He hired many assistants who prepared the canvases and started the pictures for him. Then he would finish the portraits. Many of his portraits can be found in Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace.
In 1641 his health began to fail and he died at the age of 42.
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Sir Anthony van Dyck
page 1 of paintings at Olga's Place
Anthony van Dyck Biography
from Olga's Place
Anthony van Dyck
biography and images from the ArtChive
Tour: Anthony van Dyck
from the National Gallery of Art
Anthony van Dyck
at CGFA
Information about Anthony van Dyck
at Humanities Web
Anthony van Dyck
at the Getty Museum
Anthony van Dyck
Online book at Open Library.org
King Charles I (1600-49) of England out Hunting, circa 1635
Van Dyck, Sir Anthony
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