Jacob Jordaens

Jacob Jordaens - Carefree childhood; training with Adam van Noort

Jacob Jordaens was born in Antwerp on 19th May 1593. The first of eleven children of a successful linen merchant, four of his siblings embarked on spiritual careers as nuns, beguines and monks. Not much is known about Jacob Jordaens' childhood, but it is certain that he enjoyed a good education: he had excellent handwriting and a very comprehensive knowledge of the French language, both of which can be seen in his private correspondence. His knowledge of mythology and biblical motifs was reflected to a great extent in his work; Ovid's Metamorphoses in particular are known to have been a frequent source for the artist. It is therefore likely that Jordaens grew up in a middle-class family without financial worries. Like his famous compatriot Rubens, he studied under Adam van Noort, who had only limited talent as a painter but was noted for his great pedagogical talent. The relationship between van Noort and Jordaens was much more than that of teacher and pupil; the deep respect that Jacob Jordaens felt for his teacher was expressed in numerous paintings by the van Noort family, and he also married the eldest daughter Catharina in 1616 and had three children with her. Adam van Noort was Jordaens' only teacher throughout his life.

Dean of the Guild of St Luke; recognised watercolour painter

After his eight-year apprenticeship with Adam van Noort, Jacob Jordaens was accepted as a master in the Antwerp Guild of St Luke in 1615. He quickly gained a high reputation there, and in 1621 was appointed Dean of the financially struggling guild by the magistrate. Although Jordaens resisted this appointment and only accepted it under threat of punishment, he fulfilled it conscientiously and with great success: by the 1630s, the problems had already been overcome and the guild was enjoying a double-digit number of students and assistants. By this time, Jordaens had already made a name for himself as a watercolour painter, and many of his watercolours on paper served as models for etchings or tapestries. The designs for tapestries in particular are regarded as the largest commissions that Jacob Jordaens had to fulfil in the course of his artistic career. Even after concentrating more on oil paintings, he retained his preference for opaque and watercolours.

Antwerp's most important artist; work for the church and queens

Jacob Jordaens rarely painted portraits: his interest lay rather in genre painting, which he realised with great mastery. In addition to rural life, he was mainly inspired by proverbs, which he translated into his pictorial language in an original way. His fame was so great that he was commissioned to complete several of Rubens’ unfinished works. After Rubens' death, Jordaens was regarded as Antwerp's most important painter, receiving numerous commissions for churches, working for the English and Swedish queens, and still always finding time to serve private clients. Jordaens was extremely wealthy and owned several houses, some of which he lavishly decorated with his own paintings.

Jacob Jordaens died on 18th October 1678 from the so-called ‘Antwerp plague’, an infectious disease that was rampant at the time.