Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Van der Myn, Herman

706887Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 58 — Van der Myn, Herman1899Lionel Henry Cust

VAN DER MYN or VAN DER MIJN, HERMAN (1684–1741), portrait-painter, born at Amsterdam in 1684, was the son of a Dutch minister. In 1718 he was at Paris, where he attracted the notice of the painter Coypel, who recommended him to the Duke of Orleans. He had not succeeded in finding employment in Paris, when he was patronised by an Englishman, named Burroughs, who brought him over to London. There Van der Myn was employed by the Duke of Chandos, Lord Cadogan, Sir Gregory Page, and others. He obtained a great reputation for small portraits, in which the details were most laboriously and neatly executed, and found many sitters, including Queen Caroline. Van der Myn lived in a large house in Soho Square; but an imprudent marriage, leading to a large family, together with extravagance, involved him in debt, to avoid which he returned in 1736 to Amsterdam. He did not return to London until 1741, shortly after which date he died. By his wife, Susanna Bloemendael, he left six sons and one daughter. His sister, Agatha van der Myn (b. 1705?), who came over from Holland with him, was a painter of flowers and still life. Five of Van der Myn's sons—Gerhardt, Andreas, Frans (1719–1783), Joris (1723–1763), and Robert—and his daughter Cornelia also practised painting. Frans (or Frank) Van der Myn obtained some repute as a painter of portraits and humorous subjects in London and also in Norwich, where he resided for several years. In 1763 he became a member of the Free Society of Artists in London. His practice was ruined by his vulgar habits. He died at Moorfields on 20 Aug. 1783. There are some mezzotint engravings by various members of the family.

[Walpole's Anecdotes of Painting, ed. Wornum; Vertue's manuscripts (Brit. Mus. Addit. MSS. 23076, &c.); Chaloner Smith's British Mezzotinto Portraits; Bryan's Dict. of Painters, ed. Graves.]

L. C.