Jan van Mieris (1660 - 1690)

• Was a Dutch painter.
• He was born in Leiden, the eldest son of Frans van Mieris the Elder.
• His brother Willem van Mieris was also a painter.
• Jan learned the art of painting from his father, and from Gerard de Lairesse in Amsterdam.
• Jan’s patron Petronella de la Court owned three of his paintings, her son Adam Oortmans II had four.
• Around 1686–87, he traveled with Adam Oortmans II to Italy, presumably via Vienna, as the emperor had been a client of his father.
• The journey continued towards Venice, he then proceeded to Rome.
• In that city Jan found himself in the company of a group of young painters with a bad call, the so-called Bentvueghels, and his condition worsened, but he continued to work for as long as he could.
• He died in Rome.
• More than 40 works by Jan van Mieris are known.
• Jan van Mieris was not only a painter, but also a poet.
• His motto was Horace's Ut pictura poesis, which means "as is painting so is poetry".
• The Netherlands Museum De Lakenhal in Leiden has six paintings, including his large self-portrait. 
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