Research Paper On Anthony Van Dyck

Anthony van Dyck was born in Antwerp on August 22, 1599. By the age of fifteen, van Dyck was already a highly accomplished artist. He became an independent painter in 1615. In 1618-1620, van Dyck was working with Rubens as his pupil and assistant. He took part in the painting of the Jesuit Church in Antwerp. Also, he painted such religious works as Samson and Delilah (1620), The Crowning with Thorns (1620), Judas' Kiss (1618-1620), St. Martin Dividing His Cloak (1620-1621) and portraits: Frans Snyder’s (1618), Margareta de Vos (1618), Family Portrait (1621) and several known self-portraits. By his twenty-first year, van Dyck was ready to be on his own. His pride and ambition made it hard for him to stand in Rubens' shadow in Antwerp.

Van Dyck spent the next six years studying the Italian masters and laying the foundations of his career as a successful portraitist. In 1627, he went back to Antwerp where for some years he painted a host of masterpieces. His reputation was made known to Charles I of England who recalled him. In 1632, van Dyck again arrived in London. His

In England he painted Thomas Howard, 2nd Earl of Arundel (1620-1621) and other pictures. Also, he was able to study the numerous works of the masters of Italian Renaissance, which were in the collections of the Earl of Arundel and the Duke of Buckingham. This led him to follow in the footsteps of his teachers Van Balen and Rubens and finish his education in Italy.

Apparently unwilling to remain at the court of King James I, despite an annual salary of £100, Van Dyck returned to Antwerp and in October 1621 set out for Italy. His first destination was Genoa, where he was immediately patronized by the same group of aristocratic families for whom Rubens had been active 14 years earlier. This was his most famous time when he did work for the king and he created some of his most famous