Frans van Mieris the Elder

Frans van Mieris the Elder (1635–1681) was a Dutch painter associated with the Leiden School, a group known for its fine, detailed genre paintings. Born in Leiden, Netherlands, van Mieris was a prominent figure in the Dutch Golden Age of painting, studying under Gerrit Dou, a leading exponent of the fijnschilder style. His works are characterized by their meticulous attention to detail and the use of rich, vibrant colors, often depicting scenes of domestic life and bourgeois interiors. Van Mieris's paintings were highly sought after during his lifetime, earning him the patronage of European nobility, including Cosimo III de' Medici. His influence extended to subsequent generations of artists, contributing significantly to the development of genre painting in the Netherlands.