"The Drinker, 18th-century Dutch School, After Willem Van Mieris"
"The Drinker," Dutch school after Willem van Mieris. Oil on inlaid oak panel. Private collection. Excellent condition. Dimensions: h. 14.3 cm x w. 11.6 cm. Provenance: Born into a family of painters, he was the younger brother of Jan van Mieris the Elder (1635-1681), from whom he benefited from lessons. In 1683, he joined the Guild of Saint Luke in Leiden, and in 1684, he married Agneta Schapmann. In 1694, he founded the Leiden Academy of Drawing, which he co-directed with Karel de Moor until 1736. He became Commissioner of the Guild in 1697-1698 and Dean in 1699-1700. Willem van Mieris was born in Leiden on June 3, 1662, and died in the same city on June 26, 1699. January 1747.