What we do know for certain is that this talented young artist made his way to Amsterdam, where the great painter Rembrandt took him under his wing until 1642. The influence of Bol’s mentor in evident in the portraits and history paintings he made after this period: while sober in colour, the light-dark contrasts are intense. From 1650 onwards, Bol transitioned into a more colourful and elegant style that was distinctly his own. It brought him success and major commissions. Almost 20 years later, Bol married Anna van Arckel, a wealthy woman.
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