The New International Encyclopædia/Mieris

MIERIS, mē'rĭs. A family of Dutch painters. Frans van Mieris, the elder (1635-81), a genre painter, was born in Leyden, April 12, 1635. He was a pupil of Torenvliet, of Gerard Dou, and of Adriæn van den Tempel. His pictures are characterized by elegance of drawing, and his coloring is clear, delicate, and rich, especially in painting velvets, satin, and other rich stuffs. They are treated too superficially and smoothly, however, to be strong. His principal works include the “Lady in the Crimson Jacket,” National Gallery, London; “Lady at Her Toilet,” “Two Ladies Drinking Tea,” “Interior of a Household,” and a “Male Portrait,” in the Louvre; “Boy Blowing Soap-Bubbles” and “Artist and His Wife” (1663), in the Hague Museum; a “Lady Writing a Letter” (1680); a “Lady Playing Guitar,” Amsterdam Museum; the “Soldier” (1662); “Woman Fainting,” Munich Gallery; and the “Tinker,” Dresden Gallery. — Jan van Mieris (1660-90), a genre and portrait painter, son and pupil of Frans the elder; he studied also under Lairesse. Examples of his work are an “Assembly of Ladies and Gentlemen with Lute-Player,” Gotha Museum; “Surgeon Dressing a Wound,” Hermitage, Saint Petersburg. — Willem van Mieris (1662-1747), a genre and mythological painter and sculptor, was born in Leyden, the son and pupil of Frans the elder. His work represents the school in its decline, and is inferior to his father's in drawing and impasto. He also modeled statuettes and vases adorned with bas-reliefs. Among his works are the “Trumpeter,” the “Poultry Dealer,” and the “Merry Toper,” all in the Dresden Gallery. — Frans van Mieris, the younger (1689-1763). A genre painter and writer. He was the son and pupil of Willem, and a distinguished antiquary, and published works of merit on numismatics and history. His books include the Historie der nederlandsche vorsten (1732-35) and Groot charterboek der graven van Holland, van Zeeland en heren van Vriesland (1753-56). Among his paintings are the “Pharmacy” (1714), Amsterdam Museum; portrait of his father (1737). Copenhagen Gallery; and the “Fishmonger” (1747), Rotterdam Museum.