Willem van Mieris (1662 - 1747)

Willem van Mieris

Willem van Mieris is a Dutch portrait painter who painted historical and genre scenes. He worked in the tradition of the Leiden art school founded by Gerard Dou.

Willem van Mieris became a member of Leiden's Guild of Artists of St. Luke's in 1683, after studying at his father's studio. In 1687, 1698, 1704 and 1708, he was the administrator of the Guild, and in 1699 he was elected its president.

In 1694, van Meeris, together with the painters Jacob Toorenvliet and Carel de Moor, founded the Leidse Tekenacademie, which existed in Leiden until 1736. Around this time Willem van Mieris became blind and stopped painting.