Anthony Van Dyck (van DIKE) was a renouned 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.
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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.
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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.
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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 extravagent 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.
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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.
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In 1641 his health began to fail and he died at the
age of 42.
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