Lodvick Verelst
Lodvick Verelst | |
|---|---|
| Born | |
| Baptised | 21 October 1668 |
| Died | October 28, 1704 (aged 36) Wollaston Hall, Wollaston, Stourbridge |
| Resting place | St Mary’s church, Oldswinford, Stourbridge |
| Monuments | St Mary’s church, Oldswinford, Stourbridge |
| Other names | Lodewijck Verelst, Lodovick Verelst, Lodwick Verelst |
| Occupation | portrait painter. |
| Spouse | Elizabeth Adams (née Field) |
| Parents |
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| Relatives |
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Lodvick Verelst (1668, Amsterdam – 1704, Wollaston, Stourbridge) was an English portrait painter.
Biography
Lodvick (Lodewijck, Lodovick, Lodwick) Verelst (baptised 21 October 1668, Amsterdam) was the eldest child of Herman Verelst (a portrait painter) and Cecilia Fend, originally from Venice.[1] With the collapse of the art market in the Low Countries in the late 1660s onwards, Lodvick moved with his family to Venice, then to Ljubljana and then to Vienna, where they fled from the Turkish siege of 1683 to London. Herman became an established portrait painter in London and Lodvick seems to have been his pupil. [2]
On 30 July 1695, Lodvick Verelst married Elizabeth Adams (née Field).[3] Elizabeth brought wealth from her inheritance from her first husband, Charles Adams (died 1688) and probably a house in Hatton Garden.[4]
Lodvick made his will on 12 September 1704, witnessed by members of the household of John Wheeler, a local iron master, living at Wollaston Hall, Stourbridge.[5] He died on 28 October 1704 and was buried in the church yard of St Mary’s, Oldswinford.[6] He is commemorated by a plaque within the church.
Lodvick Verelst’s will provides evidence of his siblings, bequeathing a gold guinea to each of Peter, John, Michael and Adriana, and to his mother.[5] The sale of household goods and a "Collection of fine original Pictures" together with the sale or let of the Hatton Garden house was advertised in June 1705.[7] Elizabeth returned to live near her family in Fulham, being buried there on 7 February 1712.[8][9]
Artistic career
The only direct evidence of Lodvick Verelst as an artist is in his will where he is described as a "limner".[5] Portraits had been commissioned from members of the Verelst family by some families in Stourbridge, notably Joseph Ford (a local solicitor) who bequeathed pictures of his wife "drawn by Mr Verelst Junr …." and "drawn by Mr Verelst Seno."[10] (It is impossible to decide exactly to which members of the Verelst family this refers.) No surviving works have been identified.
References
- ^ "Lodewijck Verelst". RKD. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
- ^ Hancox, Peter (2024). "The multigenerational and cross-national artist family Verelst (c. 1618-1752): The myth of Cornelius and Maria". Oud Holland. 137 (4): 174–200. doi:10.1163/18750176-13704003.
- ^ Marriage of Lodowick Verelst and Elizabeth Adams. London, City of Westminster Archives Centre, St Clement Danes, Middlesex, marriage register, STC/PR/1/5. 30 July 1695.
- ^ Adams, Charles (1688). "Will of Charles Adams, Gentleman of Saint Andrew Holborn, Middlesex dated 5 May 1688 and proved 13 July 1688, PROB 11/392/111". The National Archives. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
- ^ a b c Verelst, Lodvick (1688). "Will of Lodwick Verelst, Limner of Oldswinford, Worcestershire dated 12 September 1704 and proved 8 November 1704, PROB 11/479/222". The National Archives. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
- ^ Burial of Loddy Verelst. Worcester, Worcestershire Record Office, St Mary Oldswinford, baptism, wedding and burial register. 30 October 1704.
- ^ "News". Post Man and the Historical Account (1421): 2. 30 June 1705.
- ^ Verelst, Elizabeth (1712). "Will of Elizabeth Verelest, Widow of Fulham, Middlesex dated 27 August 1711 and proved 28 February 1712, PROB 11/525/412". The National Archives. Retrieved 8 July 2025.
- ^ Burial of Elizabeth Varelest. London Metropolitan Archives,All Saints, Fulham, burial register. 7 February 1712.
- ^ Ford, Joseph (1712). "Will of Joseph Ford, Gentleman of Old Swinford, Worcestershire dated 10 February 1720 and proved 4 July 1721, PROB 11/580/361". The National Archives. Retrieved 8 July 2025.