Jacob van Loo family name van Loo
Family life
In 1635, van Loo moved to Amsterdam, In 1642 he married Anna Lengele, the sister of the painter Martinus Lengele (1604–1668). The couple had six children, including the painters Jean van Loo and his better known brother Louis-Abraham van Loo. Their grandsons, Jean-Baptiste van Loo and Charles-André van Loo were among the most famous French painters of the 18th century. They lived on Rozengracht in the Jordaan district of Amsterdam.Professional practice
In Amsterdam, van Loo found himself at the centre of an active and competitive circle of artists, which included Rembrandt, Frans Hals and Bartholomeus van der Helst. Around 1640 Eglon van der Neer entered his studio as an apprentice and remained his student for a decade. In 1652 van Loo bought himself citizenship (burgerrecht) of the city of Amsterdam. It was speculated that he did so in the hope of being commissioned to help decorate the newly constructed town hall. In 1654, a poem by Jan Vos counted van Loo among the most significant of Dutch painters, alongside Rembrandt and van der Helst.The greater part of van Loo's oeuvre was done in the Baroque style that had originated in Rome and had been popularised throughout Europe. He is often referred to as a major influence on Johannes Vermeer, evidence of which can be seen by comparing Vermeer's painting of Diana and Her Companions with van Loo's 1648 version of the same subject (not the 1654 version of Diana and her nymphs often used to dispute the claim of direct influence.)Van Loo painted many portraits. Among his subjects were Johan Huydecoper van Maarseveen; his sister, Leonara Huydecoper, who was married to Jan J. Hinlopen; Joan Ortt, who was later involved with Antoinette Bourignon; and his wife Lucretia Boudaen.
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