Johannes Cornelisz. Verspronck

Johannes Cornelesz. Verspronck The scarcity of documents about the life of the portraitist Johannes Cornelisz Verspronck makes it difficult to find out his date of birth. Although it was long believed that he was born in Haarlem in 1597, recent archival research suggests a date about a decade later, between 1606 and 1609.

Theodorus Schrevelius, the only contemporary author to mention Verspronck, named him Gerard Sprong, adding to the confusion surrounding the artist's biography. Nevertheless, some facts about Verspronck's life remain clear.

He was the son of the painter Cornelis Engelsz and Maritge Jansdr. Rodenrijsen, who had trained with Cornelis Cornelisz van Haarlem and Karel van Mander. Verspronck probably received his first training from his father, although he probably also spent a short period in the studio of Frans Hals.

Verspronck joined the Guild of Saint Luke in Haarlem in 1632 and made his first dated painting shortly thereafter, in 1634. Verspronck never married and lived with his parents for most of his life until he bought a house on the Jansstraat in 1656, where he lived with his brother and sister.

Verspronck became quite rich as a successful portraitist for the wealthy families of Haarlem.He also painted group portraits for civil society organizations. Although Verspronck was a Catholic, he received commissions from both Calvinist and Catholic clients.

The only portrait whose price is known is that of the Catholic priest Augustijn Alsthenius Bloemert. Which was Verspronck's last known work, painted in 1658, for which he received a payment of 60 guilders.About 100 paintings by Verspronck are known. The Portrait of a Girl in Blue is his most famous work, which appeared on the twenty-five guilder banknote on September 15, 1945.

Verspronck died in June 1662 and was buried on June 30 in the Sint-Bavokerk in Haarlem.