Maria Verelst (1680–1744) was an 18th-century English painter.

Biography

Verelst was born in Vienna, but moved with her family to London at the age of three. Her father was the Dutch painter Harman Verelst, who taught her and her brothers Simon and

Cornelis Cornelis is a Dutch language, Dutch form of the male given name Cornelius (name), Cornelius. Some common shortened versions of Cornelis in Dutch are Cees, Cor, Corné, Corneel, Crelis, Kees (given name), Kees, Neel and Nelis. Cornelis (Kees) an ...

how to paint.Maria Verelst
in the RKD She is known for miniatures and portraits as well as becoming a language teacher. She spoke many different languages such as Dutch and Latin. According to the Dutch artist biographer

Jacob Campo Weyerman Jacob Campo Weyerman (9 August 1677 – 9 March 1747) was a painter and writer during the period known as the Dutch Enlightenment. His work encompassed flower and fruit still life paintings, satirical magazines, plays, and biographies of painters ...

, she overheard some Dutch men in a London theatre speaking about artists in their native language and she corrected them. The gentlemen excused themselves and continued speaking in Italian. She corrected them again, and they continued in Latin with the remark that they would not be interrupted in that language again. When she again spoke, it was to insist that women could not be barred from learning languages, despite the fact that they were not allowed to participate in public proceedings. The gentlemen were so impressed they inquired of her occupation and came to visit her the next day bearing gifts and to order their portraits made.Juffrouw Verelst Biography, p 254
in ''De levens-beschryvingen der Nederlandsche konst-schilders'' (Volume 3, 1729) by

Career

Her earliest paintings have not survived. In the 1720s she worked with

William Aikman William Aikman may refer to: * William Aikman (painter) William Aikman (24 October 16827 June 1731) was a Scottish portraitist. Life and career Aikman was the son of William Aikman, of Cairney. His father intended that he should follow the l ...

and Charles Jervas but her style more closely reflected Thomas Hudson by the next decade. Landscape backgrounds and informal dress were her style of choice for the majority of her female subjects. Hayes notes that while her modeling is firm, her staging of drapery is simple. She also worked with Sir James Thornhill around this same period of time. Murals have been preserved in England that have been attributed as a joint effort between the two painters.

Works

Some of her works include: ''Portrait of Lady Smythe, three-quarter-length'', ''Portrait of a lady, half-length, in a silver white gown'', ''Nature morte aux huitres et aux crabs'', ''Portrait of Duke of Marlborough'', ''Portrait of a woman, Lady Middleton'', ''Portrait of a lady in a yellow dress seated, with a wooded landscape beyond'', ''Portrait of a Lady with a Country Estate in the Distance'', and ''Duke of Chandos in the dressing room''.

Family Tree

End of Life

She died in London in 1744, nearly 40 years after her father, and 20 years after her uncle. Both of whom were accomplished painters and her earliest mentors.

References

External links

Painting by Maria Verelst
of Sarah Churchill, Duchess of Marlborough on website of the Wallace Collection
Maria Verelst
on

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Verelst, Maria 1680 births 1744 deaths 18th-century English painters 18th-century English women artists Artists from Vienna English women painters English people of Dutch descent