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Questions about Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger

Short answers, pulled from the story.

When and where was Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger born?

Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger was born in Bruges around 1561 or 1562. His father fled to England with him to escape persecution under the Duke of Alba.

What artistic innovations did Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger introduce to English painting?

Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger became one of the first English artists to paint on canvas instead of wood panel. He also introduced full-length figures set out-of-doors in naturalistic landscapes and used three-dimensional modeling through tonality and shadow.

Who commissioned the Ditchley Portrait from Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger and when was it painted?

Sir Henry Lee of Ditchley commissioned the portrait which Queen Elizabeth likely sat for in 1592 at her Oxfordshire estate. The painting commemorates her two-day visit to Ditchley that same year.

How did Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger lose favor after the death of Queen Elizabeth I?

Paul van Somer displaced Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger as chief portraitist before Anne died in 1619. For the last twenty years of his life he worked chiefly with country gentry and academic sitters.

When did Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger die and what happened to his sons?

Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger died on the 19th of January 1636 leaving behind a transformed English portraiture tradition. His son Henry lived until August 1650 though details about his career remain unclear while Marcus III also became a painter.