He lived with the Knights of St John of Jerusalem (‘Sint Jansheeren’) in their Commandery in Haarlem to which he owes his name. Geertgen was not himself a member of the Knights Hospitallers but probably worked for them as a lay brother. One of his paintings was a large altarpiece for their church. His work stands out for its high quality and beautiful details. Geertgen tot Sint Jans is also known for his charming doll-like female figures with smooth, oval faces and slender fingers. This Dutch painter is an important representative of early Netherlandish painting.
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