1877 - 1961

Faktaark

  • Also known as: Johannes Theuns
  • Lifespan: 84 years
  • Top 3 works: Untitled
  • Top-ranked work: Untitled
  • Art period: Modern

The Life and Art of Jan Theuns

Born in Breda, Netherlands, Jan Theuns was a Dutch painter who specialized in landscapes, interiors, and rural peasant scenes. His early training began at the Ambachtsschool, where he studied to be a decorator, before receiving drawing lessons at the Avondtekenschool in Breda. His talent was recognized early on by the romantic painter Karel Frans Phillippeau, who encouraged his artistic development. Theuns became an accomplished painter of various subjects, including works such as Oosterschelde oever bij Bergen op Zoom, genaamd De Duintjes.

Mastery and Notoriety

Theuns was deeply fascinated by the techniques, color, and composition of 17th-century masters, including Rembrandt, Rubens, and van Dyck. He studied their works extensively in museums across Antwerp, Rotterdam, The Hague, and the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. His ability to imitate the style of Rembrandt was so profound that he earned the nickname “Breda's Rembrandt.”

This technical dexterity led to a significant scandal in 1927 involving a painting of an old rabbi. Originally sold for 10 guilders, the work was later sold for 70,000 guilders as an original Rembrandt. Technical investigations eventually revealed the painting was not an original, despite its striking similarity to Rembrandt's work. While Theuns maintained his innocence regarding the forged signature, the affair brought him international notoriety. He continued to produce these "Rembrandt-heads" for customers worldwide, eventually signing his works J. Theuns to distinguish them from the originals he imitated.

Spørgsmål og svar

I hvilken historisk periode arbejdede Jan Theuns?

Jan Theuns var aktiv i Modern-perioden. Denne periode placerer kunstnerens virke i en historisk kontekst.

Kan jeg gennemse Jan Theunss værker efter farvepalette?

Se Jan Theunss værker sorteret efter farvepalette på kunstnerens Efter farvepalet side.

Hvordan kan jeg følge Jan Theunss værker kronologisk?

Se en tidslinje over Jan Theunss værker på siden Tidslinje for kunstværker, hvor kunstværkerne er sorteret efter dato.

Hvor kan man finde Jan Theunss kunstværker organiseret efter farve?

Farveindeks for Jan Theuns er en side, der organiserer kunstnerens værker efter farve.

Selvtest

Der er kun ét korrekt svar på hvert spørgsmål.

Spørgsmål 1:
In which Dutch city was Jan Theuns born?
Spørgsmål 2:
What nickname was Jan Theuns given due to his skill in imitating Rembrandt's portraits?
Spørgsmål 3:
Which 17th-century artists did Theuns study and master the technique of?
Spørgsmål 4:
What was the outcome of the technical investigation into the painting of an old rabbi sold by Mr. Duynstee?
Spørgsmål 5:
According to his daughter, what did Theuns call the works he was commissioned to create?