Explore: Herman van der Myn

(1684 - 1741)

Herman van der Myn was born in Amsterdam and trained there under Ernst Stuven. He worked as a flower painter before moving to Düsseldorf, where he was employed by Johann Wilhelm, Elector Palatine. Van der Mijn painted history pieces in Düsseldorf, returning to Antwerp by 1717, where he began to specialise in portraiture. He moved to London in c.1721, but ran up considerable debts and was forced to restore paintings for the eighth Earl of Exeter at Burley House, Northamptonshire. In 1736 he returned to the Low Countries with William IV, Prince of Orange and Princess Anne. Van der Myn painted a portrait of the prince the following year, but later fell out of favour with the couple and returned to London. He died in London in November 1741.