'Sir Joan Reynst, His Good Acquaintance, Neighbour, and Landlord': Truth and Fantasy in Houbraken's Life of Karel du Jardin

A recent exhibition devoted to Karel du Jardin at the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam, provided an opportunity to examine the accuracy of some of Arnold Houbraken's remarks about the artist's life. True to form, Houbraken's biography includes a few comic episodes, but it was possible to gain more insight into the validity of Houbraken's statements about the relationship between Du Jardin and Joan Reynst. A supposed portrait of the latter by Du Jardin in the Rijksmuseum and shown in the exhibition gave impetus to this research, and it was discovered that the sitter in another portrait by Du Jardin in the museum, also in the exhibition, is mentioned by Houbraken in conjunction with the artist as well. As in many of Houbraken's biographies, the life of Karel du Jardin contains a number of inaccuracies, but the facts seem to be generally correct. (Quotes from original text)