January Both

Background

Both was born in Utrecht, and was the brother of Andries Both.

Career

Later January was a pupil of Abraham Bloemaert and still later the brothers traveled together to Rome via France. In 1639 January collaborated with Herman van Swanevelt and Claude Lorrain on a project for the Buen Retiro Palace in Madrid. Certainly by 1646 January had returned to Utrecht, where he refined further his expansive, imaginary landscapes drenched with a Mediterranean golden light.

In Landscape with Bandits Leading Prisoners (Museum of Fine Arts, Boston) the sandy road makes a sweeping diagonal from the left.

Touches of realism in the down-to-earth figures and detailed vegetation of the foreground contrast with the idyllic golden distance. Occasionally peoples his landscapes with religious or mythological figures as in Judgement of Paris (London, National ) where the figures were painted by a fellow Utrecht artist, Cornelis van Poelenburch.

January"s brother Andries (c1612-1641), who specialised in peasant scenes, died in Venice as they were returning to Utrecht. brothers are registered as Bentvueghels, but their nicknames are not known. January"s pupils were Barend Bispinck, Willem de Heusch, and Hendrick Verschuring.

January died in his native city of Utrecht. is represented in the following collections: Fitzwilliam Museum at the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom.

Hermitage, Saint St. Petersburg, Russia. Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna. Louvre, Paris; Mauritshuis Royal Picture, The Hague.

Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

National of Art, Washington District of Columbia National of Canada, Ottawa.

National, London. Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam. Royal Collection, London.

Art of Greater Victoria, British Columbia.

Art of the University of Rochester, New New York Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford. Christchurch Art Te Puna o Waiwhetu, New Zealand.

Courtauld Institute of Art, London.

Dulwich Picture, London. National Museum of Western Art, Tokyo.

Norwich Museums, United Kingdom. Prado Museum, Madrid.

Spencer Museum of Art at the University of Kansas. The Wallace Collection, London.

Vejle Kunstmuseum, Denmark, amongst others

Achievements

• Both's works are represented in the following collections: Fitzwilliam Museum at the University of Cambridge, United Kingdom; Hermitage, St. Petersburg, Russia; Kunsthistorisches Museum, Vienna; Louvre, Paris; Mauritshuis Royal Picture Gallery, The Hague; Museum of Fine Arts, Boston; National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C.; National Gallery of Canada, Ottawa; National Gallery, London; Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam; Royal Collection, London; Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, British Columbia; Art Gallery of the University of Rochester, New York; Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford; Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetu, New Zealand; Courtauld Institute of Art, London; Dulwich Picture Gallery, London; National Museum of Western Art, Tokyo; Norwich Museums, United Kingdom; Prado Museum, Madrid; Spencer Museum of Art at the University of Kansas; The Wallace Collection, London; Vejle Kunstmuseum, Denmark; Nasjonalmuseet, Norway.

Membership

Bentvueghels.

Connections

teacher:

Gerrit van Honthorst

References

• Jan Both: Paintings, Drawings and Prints (Outstanding Dissertations in the Fine Arts)