- Hans Bol
Hans Bol (1534–1593), Flemish artist, received his early training from his two uncles who were also painters. He then was the apprentice to a
Mechelen watercolorist andtempera painter at the age of fourteen. Because Bol’s watercolors became so widely reproduced, he began creating miniatures onparchment . The technique earned him many international clients and a good income. In addition, Bol also produced severaloil paintings ,illuminated manuscripts ,drawing s, andengravings . He preferred to createlandscapes ,mythological ,allegorical andbiblical scenes, andgenre paintings .tyle and work
Bol was a
mannerist , which followed theHigh Renaissance .One of his most famous works of art is "Landscape with the Fall of Icarus", made with watercolours on paper. It was inspired by
Ovid 's "Metamorphoses ", in which the ancient myth of Icarus is told. The painting is a marvelous example of the art of landscape. Subtle colour transitions, skilful perspective and effectivecontrast s between foreground and background, and human figures and the forces of nature, lend this miniature painting a cosmic dimension.Bol chose the
Icarus theme on several occasions. It was also subject of one of his paintings, which described in detail and highly praised byKarel van Mander in the 17th century. Although Bol was once an important and admired painter, we only know him through his small drawings and watercolours. Most of his paintings appear to have been lost. This miniature is all the more important, because it probably produces the painting referret to by Van Mander, which may have been his masterpiece. Consequently, Bol ought to be viewed not only as a superior miniature painter, but above all as an important artist who played a key role in the development of landscape art.External links
*Source: http://www.wga.hu
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.