Le Premier Né (The First Born)
Josephus Laurentius Dyckmans was born in Leirren, Belgium. He was a professor at the Antwerp Academy from 1841 to 1854. His work was shown in Antwerp and at the Royal Academy in London, between 1846 and 1869. His painstakingly detailed pictures, often inspired by Dutch 17th century art, earned him the nickname ‘The Belgian Gerard Dou’. Dyckmans was principally a genre painter who had a preference for intimate indoor settings.
The highly detailed style that Dyckmans adopted is best appreciated up close and the artist was concerned that when this painting was exhibited in London in 1881 that it was not hung too high on the gallery wall. ‘I have spoken to Dyckmans,’ wrote a correspondent to the paintings first owner, ‘who consents with pleasure to the painting being exhibited under the condition that you be assured that it will be put where it is able to be seen that is today, not too high up’.
