Hals

Hals, Frans (d. 1666), founder of the Dutch school of ycwe-painting, was born between 1580

or 1584, probably at Antwerp, but passed most of his life at Haarlem. His private life was not exemplary, and he fell into poverty. He received, however, a pension from the municipality, and was buried in St. Bavon's church. He was a great master of the technique of portrait-painting, but his flesh-painting is considered somewhat crude, and his shading rather heavy. Vandyck is said to have visited him and praised him very highly. The chief work of Hals is his group of the Society of Archers in their Hall at Delft. His Mandoline Player at Amsterdam is also a good specimen of his portraiture. Among his pupils were Van der Heist, Ostade, Brouwer, and Wouvermans. He is generally known as Hals the Elder to distinguish him from his son (d. 1669) and his brother Dirk Hals (d. 1656.)