Background
He likely trained under his father January van Kessel the Elder (1626–1679).
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January Kessel
Edit ProfileCareer
Rather than becoming a master in the Antwerp Guild of Saint Luke, he moved to Madrid where he became a painter to the court for which he made mainly portraits. He gained recognition at court under the reign of Charles II of Spain for the portraits he made of Queen Marie Louise d"Orléans, first wife of Charles World War II In 1686 he became officially the painter of the Queen. He is said to have received a commission from the Queen to paint scenes on the ceiling of her chambers in the Royal Alcazar of Madrid.
Upon the death of the first wife of Charles II, van Kessel continued to serve as a portrait painter at the court and gained the favour of the king"s new wife, Mariana of Neuburg.
With the change of ruling dynasty from the Habsburgs to the Bourbons with the accession to the throne of Philip V of Spain in 1700, the artist"s popularity at court experienced a decline. This was likely due to his continued close relationship with the widowed former Queen.
The new king was not happy with his work possibly due to the ascendancy of French tastes at the Bourbon court.
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Born
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Died
1708 (aged 53) -
Nationality
Netherlands