Background
Verspronck was born between 1600 and 1603 in Haarlem. He was the son of the painter Cornelis Engelsz from Gouda, who taught him to paint portraits.
Verspronck was born between 1600 and 1603 in Haarlem. He was the son of the painter Cornelis Engelsz from Gouda, who taught him to paint portraits.
Verspronck (between 1600 and 1603 – 30 June 1662 (buried)) was a Dutch Golden Age portraitist. He may have been a Frans Hals pupil, and was strongly influenced by him, especially in his natural expressions and relaxed poses. He is best known for his exactness in painting details such as jewelry and lace, which made him quite popular with female sitters.
Twenty years later Verspronck even painted the regentesses of the Saint Elisabeth Gasthuis.
According to Houbraken, he was called "Gerard Sprong", and was the son of the painter Cornelis Engelsz who made many schuttersstukken that could be seen in the Doelen (he meant the buildings in Haarlem that were used for target practise, and where today the central library and proveniershuis are located. Verspronck died in 1662 in Haarlem.
He was buried on 30 June 1662. Verspronck produced about 100 known paintings.
His Girl in a Blue Dress appeared on September 15, 1945, on the bank note for 25 Dutch guilders.
The bank note had a circulation of approximately 39 million, and was removed from circulation on February 1, 1953. His portrait of the Amsterdam merchant Jean le Gouche (1634) was in the collection of Hermann Göring. The portrait was auctioned recently, and came from the collection of Jacques Goudstikker.
Its current whereabouts are unknown.
Haarlem Guild of Saint Luke]
In 1632 he became a member of the Haarlem Guild of Saint Luke and started a successful career as a portraitist of mostly Catholic sitters in Haarlem.