Frans van der Mijn was an exceedingly talented Dutch portraitist, renowned for his ‘considerable merit as an artist’ but also his apparent lack of decorum.

Born in Düsseldorf, Germany, van der Mijn’s early tuition was provided by his father, Herman van der Mijn (1684-1741), an esteemed painter of portraits and flower pieces. Several of his siblings also established themselves as artists of note, especially his younger brother, George van der Mijn (1723-1763) and sister Cornelia van der Mijn (1709-1782), who worked for a time in the circle of Rachel Ruysch (1664-1750).

Between 1741 and the early 1750s, he lived in Amsterdam and The Hague, where he established a substantial reputation. His exquisite allegorical piece from 1842, titled ‘A Lady in a Landscape with a Fly on her Shoulder: An Allegory of Touch’, which he produced at just 23, is a testament to his rapid development.

Frans van der Mijn, A Lady in a Landscape with a Fly on her Shoulder: An Allegory of Touch (1842)

From here, he travelled to England, where he spent time in London, Cambridge and Norwich working for various aristocratic patrons, such as Thomas Harrison of Bletchley Park and Sir Henry Erskine, 5th Baronet of Alba. His portrait of Sir Thomas Robinson, 1st Baronet of Rokeby, Yorkshire, is held at the National Portrait Gallery.

Frans van der Mijn, Sir Thomas Robinson, 1st Bt (1750)

In 1761, he began sending works to the newly founded Society of Artists of Great Britain, which later became the Free Society of Artists.

However, it’s apparent that alongside his notoriety as a portraitist, he also developed a less-welcome reputation for smoking and drinking, as described by Edward Edwards ARA (1738-1806) in ‘Anecdotes Of Painters Who Have Resided Or Been Born In England’ (1808).

 "He had considerable merit as an artist, but was of mean address and vulgar manners: He loved smoking and drinking, nor would forego his pipe, though it was offensive to his employers, so that he never acquired the practice which he might otherwise have obtained.”

In 1783, he died unceremoniously in London.

As we look back on the oeuvre of this fascinating Dutchman, we’re left with the stinging feeling that his lifestyle hindered his abundant potential. He’s represented in numerous public collections, including at The British Museum, Ashmolean Museum, National Portrait Gallery, and The Fitzwilliam Museum.

Exhibited

Society of Artists of Great Britain.

Public Collections

The British Museum, Ashmolean Museum, Corpus Christi College at the University of Cambridge, National Portrait Gallery, The Fitzwilliam Museum.

Timeline

1719

Born in Düsseldorf, Germany. His father was Herman van der Mijn (1684-1741), an esteemed painter of portraits and flower pieces.

1741/1742-1748

Lived in Amsterdam.

Lived in The Hague.

C. early 1750s

Moved to London.

1783

Died in London.