Jan Soukens
Encyclopedia
Jan Soukens was a Dutch Golden Age
painter.
who he met in a market ship travelling from Dordrecht to Nijmegen in 1694. Soukens was on his way home to Zaltbommel after selling paintings at the market in Dordt, which he did twice a year. The two men enjoyed each other's company, and Soukens offered Houbraken his house to stay in, which surprised Houbraken until he realized that the houses around Zaltbommel were all pretty broken down. Soukens claimed he had two houses, one with a roof for the winter time, and one without a roof for the summer time. He had a few paintings with him that he hadn't sold, which is how Houbraken struck up the conversation. Houbraken commented that he was a pleasant man who didn't seem bothered that the demand for his art had fallen so much in recent years.
According to the RKD he was a follower of Herman Saftleven
who had two sons he taught to paint; Hendrik (who travelled to Rome) and Gijsbert. He also influenced the painter known as the Monogrammist ISvM.
Dutch Golden Age
The Golden Age was a period in Dutch history, roughly spanning the 17th century, in which Dutch trade, science, military and art were among the most acclaimed in the world. The first half is characterised by the Eighty Years' War till 1648...
painter.
Biography
According to Houbraken he was a pupil of Johannes VorstermansJohannes Vorstermans
Johannes Vorstermans , was a Dutch Golden Age landscape painter.-Biography:According to Houbraken he was the son of Otto Vorsterman who travelled to Utrecht to become a pupil of Herman Saftleven...
who he met in a market ship travelling from Dordrecht to Nijmegen in 1694. Soukens was on his way home to Zaltbommel after selling paintings at the market in Dordt, which he did twice a year. The two men enjoyed each other's company, and Soukens offered Houbraken his house to stay in, which surprised Houbraken until he realized that the houses around Zaltbommel were all pretty broken down. Soukens claimed he had two houses, one with a roof for the winter time, and one without a roof for the summer time. He had a few paintings with him that he hadn't sold, which is how Houbraken struck up the conversation. Houbraken commented that he was a pleasant man who didn't seem bothered that the demand for his art had fallen so much in recent years.
According to the RKD he was a follower of Herman Saftleven
Herman Saftleven
Herman Saftleven the Younger , was a Dutch painter of the Baroque period.-Biography:Born in Rotterdam, Saftleven lived most of his life in Utrecht. His brothers, Cornelis Saftleven and Abraham Saftleven were both painters...
who had two sons he taught to paint; Hendrik (who travelled to Rome) and Gijsbert. He also influenced the painter known as the Monogrammist ISvM.