Michiel de Wael
Michiel de Wael | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Haarlem, Dutch Republic |
| Died | 7 April 1659 (aged 62) Haarlem, Dutch Republic |
| Occupation(s) | Brewer, entrepreneur |
| Known for | Depictions by Frans Hals |
Michiel de Wael (baptized 9 May 1596 – interred 7 April 1659 in Haarlem) was a Dutch entrepreneur in brewing and a resident of Haarlem, recognized for his depictions by Frans Hals. His grandfather, an early advocate of Calvinism, took part in the Siege of Haarlem.
Biography
Michiel was born to affluent brewer and burgomaster Jan Michielsz de Wael (1557–1618) and Cornelia Anthonisdr Juyst. In 1588, Jan relocated from Amsterdam to Haarlem, where he joined the vroedschap and ascended to the position of burgomaster in 1597. He also made investments in the development of Amsterdam’s Lastage area. Michiel’s stepmother was Aechte Adriaensdr Van Hoorn.
His older brother Jan held roles as magistrate and burgomaster, played a part in the tulip mania episode, and was incarcerated in Loevestein in 1650; another sibling, Anthony, practiced law in Monnikendam. Their sister Geertruyd established the Hofje van Guurtje de Waal.
Together with Jan, Michiel co-owned the breweries De Son and 't Roode Hart.
Michiel fulfilled duties as a commissioner within the local judiciary and was a member of the St. George civic militia. He was depicted twice by Hals in militia portraits: once as captain in The Banquet of the Officers of the St George Militia Company in 1627 and later as "fiscaal" in The Officers of the St George Militia Company in 1639. Additionally, he was painted by Pieter Claesz Soutman in 1644.
The artwork from 1639 is now interpreted as a wedding pendant dating from approximately 1625, corresponding with his union to Cunera van Baersdorp (Leiden 1600–Haarlem 1640), daughter of a Leiden mayor. The portraits display Cunera wearing half-mourning garments after her mother’s passing.
Their youngest daughter Josina married Alkmaar author Sierik Siersma in 1656. Following his demise, she returned to Haarlem and inherited her parents’ Frans Hals portraits, which stayed within her lineage until the early nineteenth century.
External links
- Michiel de Wael at the Taft Museum of Art website