Biography

Dou specialised in small-scale meticulously painted scenes, astonishing in their precise detail and highly polished finish. He and his followers were known as Fijnschilders (fine painters). In Leiden, Dou trained as a glazier with his father, which might possibly have encouraged his fascination with reflective surfaces, and then became a successful pupil of Rembrandt. His paintings commanded high prices because of the artist’s renown and the time and skill each required. Dou enjoyed an international reputation. He declined King Charles II’s invitation to London, however, preferring to remain in Leiden, where his studio attracted numerous students and distinguished visitors.