Get a hand made painting of Portrait of James, 4th Lord Cranstoun (in or after 1643-85/88), Jan Mijtens (copy after), c. 1663 - c. 1670 - dutch golden age portraiture, Mature Period - johannes mytens or jan mijtens, or 'mytens' to the english

Q: What is the thematic context of Portrait of James, 4th Lord Cranstoun (in or after 1643-85/88), Jan Mijtens (copy after), c. 1663 - c. 1670?

dutch golden age portraiture, royalist allegory, civil war, scottish aristocracy & status, military power & nobility, courtly portrait tradition

Q: What topics does Portrait of James, 4th Lord Cranstoun (in or after 1643-85/88), Jan Mijtens (copy after), c. 1663 - c. 1670 explore?

portrait, scottish nobility, baroque art, military attire, 17th century, armor, landscape view, formal portrait

The identity of this man remained a mystery for a long time. Bauer’s research turned up another painting that revealed that the Rijksmuseum picture is a copy after Jan Mijtens’s portrait of the Scottish nobleman James, 4th Lord Cranstoun.5 The original was in the collection of Lieutenant-Colonel A.J. Edmonstoune-Cranstoun of Corehouse around the beginning of this century.6 James Cranstoun was a son and heir of William, 3rd Lord Cranstoun, who in 1643 married Mary Leslie, the fifth and youngest daughter of the 1st Earl of Leven. Cranstoun Sr sided with the royalists in the English Civil War, and at the Battle of Worcester in 1651, when Charles II vainly fought to regain the throne, he was captured and imprisoned in the Tower of London. His property was confiscated, leaving his wife and children with only a tiny portion of their previous estates to live on.7 A lot is known about the father’s life but precious little about the son’s. Given the date of his parents’ wedding James Cranstoun would have been born in or after 1643. He married Mary Don, the daughter of Sir Alexander Don, and died between 1685 and 1688.8 His armour, helmet and sword show that he was a military officer, but further details are lacking. Comparison of this portrait with the prototype shows that the face has been worked up far less and that the rendering of the hair differs from Mijtens’s style. Generally speaking, the execution is far weaker than one is accustomed to with the artist. The depiction of the sky and the rock is uncertain, but by contrast the sash and the armour are very impasted. This is not likely to be an autograph replica, in other words.9 Far less copying was done in Mijtens’s studio than in those of Michiel van Mierevelt and Gerard van Honthorst, for example.10 His portraits were mainly imitated by fellow painters. Assuming that James Cranstoun was born in 1643 at the earliest he would have to be at least around 20 here, so the original would have been from around 1663. In any event, this canvas in which the sitter has been placed against a rocky outcrop with a view of an idealized landscape on the left ties in with the courtly portraits by Mijtens, chiefly of the 1660s. The prototype was almost certainly executed in the Dutch Republic. Cranstoun’s stay there may have been connected with his military career. It seems likely that the Rijksmuseum copy was made not long after its model. Richard Harmanni, 2023 See Key to abbreviations, Rijksmuseum painting catalogues and Acknowledgements

Related Artworks

Artist Biography

early life and training

johannes mytens or jan mijtens, or 'mytens' to the english, a prominent dutch golden age painter, was born in the hague around 1614. according to the rkd, johannes (jan) mijtens was trained by anthony van opstal and later by nicolas van der horst. this training laid the foundation for his future success as a portraitist.

artistic career

mytens became a member of the hague guild of saint luke in 1642 and helped set up the confrerie pictura. he painted for dutch royalty and specialized in portraiture, genre pieces, and historical allegories. his skill in rendering the clothing of affluent dutch was particularly notable.

portrait of james, 4th lord cranstoun (c. 1663 - c. 1670), a copy after jan mijtens, showcases his expertise in portraiture.
the meeting of granida and daifilo (c. 1655 - c. 1660) demonstrates his ability to capture the essence of pastoral scenes.
portrait of maria de witte françoisdr (1616-70), another example of his portraiture work, highlights his attention to detail.

museum and art collections

mytens' works can be found in various museums, including the rijksmuseum, which features several of his paintings. the birmingham museum of art also has a collection of his work, such as the van der graeff family.

legacy and influence

mytens died in the hague on december 24, 1670, leaving behind a legacy as a skilled portraitist. his influence can be seen in the works of his students, including nicolaes lissant, gerard de nijst, and urbanus talibert van yperen.

references

* [https://ArtsDot.com/@/johannes-mytens-or-jan-mijtens-or-'mytens'-to-the-english](https://ArtsDot.com/@/johannes-mytens-or-jan-mijtens-or-'mytens'-to-the-english) * [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/johannes_mytens](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/johannes_mytens) discover more about johannes mytens and his works on ArtsDot.com

johannes mytens or jan mijtens, or 'mytens' to the english

1614 - 1670 , Netherlands

Quick Facts

Artistic Movement Or Style: Spanish Renaissance, Mannerism
Artists Or Movements Influenced By This Artist:
- Expressionism
- Cubism
Artists Who Influenced This Artist:
- Titian
- Tintoretto
Date Of Birth: October 1, 1541
Date Of Death: April 7, 1614
Full Name: Domenikos Theotokopoulos
Nationality: Greek, Spanish
Notable Artworks:
- Disrobing of Christ
- Assumption of Virgin
- Burial Count Orgaz
- View of Toledo
- Opening Fifth Seal
Place Of Birth: Candia (Iráklion), Crete

Baroque Classicism: Reconciling Drama & Order in 17th-Century Art

Johannes Mytens Or Jan Mijtens, Or 'Mytens' To The English: The Full Collection

Explore artworks organized by themes, styles, and characteristics.

Popular

Collectible Description

Artist Biography

Reproduction Medium

Reproduction Frame

White $1

Blurside $1

Extended $1

P118B $10

P118H $10

P118W $10

P438Z $10

P508JH $12

P508YH $12

P805H $10

P805Z $10

P919BZ $10

P919G $10

P919XJ $10

P959ZH $10

P968JZ $12

W106C $8

W218G $10

W218JH $8

W218Y $10

W307PJ $10

W316G $10

W316PJ $8

W316Y $10

W398PJ $8

W4111J $10

W500HY $15

W500JH $15

W692G $12

W849H $8

W940BG $15

W953PJ $8

H24-GOLD $30

H24-SILVER $30

H36-GOLD $45

H36-SILVER $45

Framed

Reproduction Size

Protective Varnish

Nameplate

Engraved Bronze Plaque Details

Transparent Acrylic Plaque Details

Black Acrylic Plaque Details

Urgent Production

Included Benefits

Free Worldwide Express Shipping

High-Quality Linen Canvas

Full Shipping Insurance

Customs Tax Refund Guarantee

True Color Matching Guarantee

100-Day Return Policy (Defects Only)

100% Money-Back Guarantee

Bulk Discount Offer

Total Price

$ 63

Summary

Giclée / Art Print

-

Reproduction Frame

-

Nameplate

-

Protective Varnish

-

Urgent

-

Express Shipping

Included

Total Price

$ 63

Related Artworks

Artist Biography

early life and training

artistic career

museum and art collections

legacy and influence