Kupecký, Jan

Born in 1667 in Pezinok, Slovakia; died July 16, 1740, in Nuremberg. Bohemian-Slovak artist.

Kupecký was the son of a Bohemian weaver who had been exiled to Slovakia for being a member of the Unity of Czech Brethren. He studied under B. Klaus in Vienna from 1684 to 1687. He then moved to Italy, where he resided until 1709. Kupecký also worked in Austria, Hungary, Bohemia, and Slovakia. From 1723 he lived in Nuremberg. His portraits are marked by their vivid portrayal of character, their energetic painting technique, and their impressive baroque composition. These qualities are seen in the works Portrait of Peter 7 (1711–12, Museum of Duke Anton Ulrich, Braunschweig) and Portrait of a Young Woman (c. 1716, L’vov Picture Gallery).