Willem van
Miris

Willem van Mieris (niderl. Willem van Mieris; 3 June 1662, Leiden — 26 January 1747, Leiden) was a Dutch portrait painter, author of historical and genre paintings. Worked in the tradition established by Gerard Dou Leiden art school.

Willem van Mieris was born into a family of artists. His father, Frans van Mieris the Elder, was a famous pupil of G. Dou, the older brother of Willem Jan van Mieris was also a painter. After training in the workshop of his father Willem in 1683 by the Guild of St. Luke became a member of the Leiden Guild of artists. In 1687, 1698, 1704 and 1708 he manages the Affairs of the Guild in 1699 was elected its Chairman. In 1694 van Mieris, together with the painters Jacob van Torenvliet and Karel de Maur, founded in Leiden Academy of arts Leidse Tekenacademie, which existed in the city before 1736. Around this time the painter van Mieris became blind and ceased to draw.