WYCK, Jan - b. 1644 Haarlem, d. 1700 Mortlake

Painter, member of a Dutch family of painters and draughtsmen. Thomas Wijck was active for a short time in Italy. He was a marine, landscape and subject painter and is best known for his scenes of popular life set in Roman squares and courtyards, themes he continued to paint even after his return to the northern Netherlands. He travelled to England shortly after the Restoration and was followed there by his son and pupil Jan Wyck, who remained in Britain for the rest of his career and played an important role in the development of English sporting painting.

A marriage certificate issued on 22 November 1676 describes the artist as ‘Jan Wick of St Paul’s Covent Garden, gent., widower, about 31 …’, suggesting that he was born c. 1645, but his correct birthdate is known from the inscription on a mezzotint portrait of him by John Faber II (1684-1756) after a painting by Sir Godfrey Kneller.

Jan Wyck specialized in hunting and battle scenes, and there are a number of the latter featuring King William at Blenheim Palace. He was also celebrated for his equestrian portraits.