Jan Josef Horemans I (Antwerp, 1682-1759)

Oil on canvas.

24 x 30 1/2 in.

Provenance
A prominent Geneseo, New York family.

Jan Josef Horemans I (Antwerp, 1682-1759)
Jan Josef Horemans the Elder is known primarily as a painter of historical and genre scenes. Horemans first studied under sculptor Michael van der Voort and continued as a student of Jan van Pel. In 1706, he became a master of the St. Luke's guild in Antwerp, where he spent his entire life. His genre paintings were created along the same line as his predecessor, David Teniers I, repeatedly depicting interiors with card players as well as cabaret interiors. His most famous pupil was his son, Jan Josef Horemans the Younger, who worked in a very similar style. In fact, father and son often collaborated and it is sometimes difficult to distinguish the style of one from that of the other. The Elder was called the "Brown Horemans" and the Younger was called the "Lighter Horemans" to distinguish between their slightly darker and lighter palettes.