Govert Dircksz. Camphuysen

When he married in Amsterdam in 1647 he was described as aged 23 and 'from Gorcum' (Gorinchem). He probably first studied with his cousin, Rafel Camphuysen (c. 1597/8-1657) who had been in Amsterdam since 1627. In 1643 he was described as a portrait painter in Amsterdam.

In 1652 an inventory was taken of his house in the Kalverstraat, and in July that year he was working in Gottorif in Schleswig-Holstein. By 1655 he was a Court Painter to Queen Hedwig Eleanora in Stockholm, where he is also recorded in 1659, 1661 and 1663.

By 1665 he was back in Amsterdam, where he was buried on 4 July 1672. Apart from portraits and some still lifes he painted farm scenes somewhat in the manner of Potter, with whom his work was sometimes confused.

Text © Wallace Collection, 2017