Jan Verhas

Jan Francois Verhas (January 9, 1834-October 31, 1896) was a genre painter and is considered the founder of the School of Dendermonde, [ [http://www.mskgent.be/html/index.php?page=165&lang= Short biography at the Museum of Fine Arts, Ghent website] ] best known for his paintings of children of the Belgian bourgeoisie, in a classical style but with a natural feeling to them. [ [http://www.vlaamsekunstcollectie.be/index.aspx?local=nl&p=object&query=identifier=%221877-F%22 Description of his style at the Vlaamse Kunstcollectie site] ] Born in Dendermonde as the younger brother of painter Frans Verhas, he studied at the Academy of Dendermonde and the Academy in Antwerp, finishing with the Prix de Rome in 1860. The Belgian government commissioned him to travel to Venice where he made the painting "Velleda et la Bataille de Callao" in 1862. The next four years, he lived in Binche, where he married. He then moved to Brussels. [ [http://www.boongallery.be/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=45&tabindex=44&artistid=9685 Short biography at Boon Gallery] ] Verhas was a regular of the Salons of the time, winning a second class medal in the Paris Salon Exposition of 1881, and a gold medal at the 1889 Exposition Universelle. He was made a Chevalier in the Legion of Honor in 1881. Jan Verhas died in Schaarbeek in 1896. [ [http://www.fineoldart.com/browse_by_essay.html?essay=475 Short biography in English at FineOldArt.com] ]

Paintings by Jan Verhas can be seen at the Museum of Fine Arts in Ghent, the Royal Museum of Fine Arts, Antwerp and the City Hall of Dendermonde. [ [http://www.dendermonde.be/cult/musea/musea5.htm Dendermonde City Hall artwork] ]

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