Daniel Mytens, the Elder

Dutch c. 1590

Daniel Mytens The Elder was a painter of portraits, who was born in Delft around 1590 and who died in the Hague before 1648.

The brother of Isaac Mytens, Daniel probably studied in Antwerp. His paintings are influenced by Rubens and some say his beautiful technique precedes that of the Flemish Master.

Mytens came to London where he was extremely well accomodated Jacques the First and his son Charles. He was named as painter of the King on 30 May 1625 and occupied at the court of England a considerable place until the arrival of Van Dyck.

The success of Van Dyck carried Mytens initially into the shade and as a result he requested his leave from Charles the First.

However, the assurances that there was place at His court for the two artists, and, perhaps also the perfect courtesy of Van Dyck (who later painted a splendid portrait of his fellow-member) calmed Mytens insecurities.

Nevertheless, because he was employed less, Daniel Mytens did not prolong his stay in England and went back to the Hague. One can pinpoint the date of this departure to about 1636. Certain biographers give it as 1630, but it is an unquestionable error, Van Dyck having been named first painter of Charles the First only in 1633.

Mytens found a well deserved success in his birthplace. Houbraken, in particular, quotes him carrying out the painting of a ceiling at the Town Hall of the Hague in 1656.

The inventory of King Charles the First mentions following works: “Count Mansfeld”, “Jacques XV of Scotland”, “The Woman of Jacques IV”, “Mary of Scotland”, “Duke of Richmond”, “Duke of Buckingham”, “Marquis Hamilton”, “Duke of Nottingham”, “William, Duke of Pembroke”, “Jeffrey, the Queens Dwarf”, “Prince Henry” and “Portrait of the Painter”.

Paintings by the artist can be found in the museums of Copenhagen, Edinburgh and Turin, the National Portrait Gallery in London, Buckingham Palace and Hampton Court. Also at the Walker Art Gallery in Minneapolis and the Metropolitan Museum in New York.