Jan Dirksz Both

Born c. 1612, in Utrecht; died 1641, in Venice.

Painter, engraver, draughtsman. Figures, portraits, genre scenes, landscapes.

Andries Both was the brother of Jan Both: they were the sons of the glass painter Dirck Joriaensz. Both. Despite the dates of birth customarily cited, von Wurzbach claims that Andries Both was actually the younger of the two brothers. Like his brother, Andries was taught by his father and also went on to work with Abraham Bloemaert. Both is known to have been in Rome by 1636, where he was exposed to the influence of the genre painters, the Bamboccianti. Thereafter, he devoted himself to the interpretation of the human figure. In Rome and Venice he kept the same company as his brother, with whom he collaborated, often adding finely executed figures to his oil paintings. The artist's delicacy of brushwork and elegant and sober style is reminiscent of Il Bamboccio (Pieter van Laer), but with a more successful handling of tones. His portraits display humour and character. He painted low-life genre scenes after the manner of Brouwer, and was influenced by Pieter van Laer. He also produced etchings. Andries Both drowned in Venice on the way home after having dined out.

"BOTH, Andries Dirksz." In Benezit Dictionary of Artists. Oxford Art Online, http://www.oxfordartonline.com.proxy.lib.fsu.edu/subscriber/article/benezit/B00023863 (accessed May 3, 2012).