Gerard van Honthorst

As a young painter he travelled to Italy, where he admired Caravaggio’s work. Van Honthorst mastered his striking use of strong light and dark contrasts and ultimately became one of the best-known exponents of Utrecht Caravaggism. Besides painting nocturnal scenes by candlelight, Van Honthorst was also a portraitist for the upper class and royals. He even received commissions from king Charles I of England. In 1637, Van Honthorst opened a second studio in The Hague to meet the demand for his portraits. In 1649, he worked on the decorations for the famous Orange Hall in Palace Huis ten Bosch. After the completion he returned to Utrecht, where he died in 1656.