(c1645 - 1718)
Jan Griffier senior was born in Amsterdam and trained in the studio of Roeland Roghman. He soon discovered a talent for imitating work by other painters. In about 1672, he travelled to England, initially working in the studio Jan Looten. He became a ‘free Brother’ of the Painter-Stainers’ Company in 1677. His landscape views of Italy and the vicinity of the Rhine sold well and he purchased a yacht, which became his family home on the Thames. He married at least twice and had at least five children. In 1695 he set off for Amsterdam but was shipwrecked on route and lost almost all his assets. By 1704 he had returned to London with his son, Jan Griffier junior. His work typically includes sun-drenched Italian or Dutch winter landscapes.
