Izaak Godijn
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
_-_Self-portrait.jpg)
Izaak Godijn or Izaak Godyn[1] (c. 1660 – after 1712) was a Flemish painter who, after a stay in Italy, spent most of his known artistic career as a court painter in Prague. He produced magnificent Baroque frescos and hunting still lifes.[2] He is credited with introducing the Baroque Netherlandish tradition of hunting pieces into Bohemia.[3]
Details about his life are scarce. Izaak Godijn was probably born around 1660 in Antwerp. He is believed to be the younger brother of the painter Abraham Godijn or Abraham Godyn who studied under the prominent history painter Hendrik Herregouts. It is not clear with whom Izaak studied but it is assumed he trained initially in Antwerp.[2]
He travelled likely in the company of Abraham Godijn to Italy. He moved in 1690 to Prague, where he joined Abraham Godijn. Here he worked as a court painter.[2] He worked together with Abraham Goddijn on a commission to paint frescos in the Troja Palace in Prague. They were part of a group of artists who worked from 1687 to 1693 for Count Wenzel Adalbert von Sternberg on the decoration of the Troja Palace in Prague.[2] This group included Flemish artists such as Johann Baptiste Bouttats.[4]
After Abraham Godijn returned to Antwerp, Izaak was in Prague employed as a court painter to Count Wenzel Adalbert von Sternberg from 1693 to 1712. In 1700 he married in Prague. From 1703 onwards he attempted to become a member of the painter's guild of Malá Strana in Prague but was not successful. A statement by Count von Sternberg that Godijn was his court painter was likely the reason for this failure. Izaak was still documented in Prague in 1708.[3]
The date and place of his death are not known but it is presumed he died in Prague after 1712.[2]
