About the Artist

Samuel van Hoogstraten (1627 Dordrecht-1678 Dordrecht) was taught first by his father, Drick van Hoogstrater, and from about 1642 to 1648 by Rembrandt in Amsterdam. In 1651 he relocated to Vienna, where he worked for Emperor Ferdinand III (1608-1657). In 1653 he traveled to Rome, then to London from 1662 to 1666, after which he settled in Holland and became a member of the Pictura painters' guild in The Hague. After 1670, he worked in his native city. He took up many themes in his paintings, initially in the style of Rembrandt, but he eventually turned into more detailed style. Hoogstraten also pursued graphic work, experimented with optical equipment, constructed peep-hole-pictures, and wrote important treatises on art. His major works include Self Portrait, 1645, Museum Bredius, The Hague; Man at Window, 1653, Kunsthistoriches Museum, Vienna; and Mattheus vab den Broucke, 1670, Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.