Jan Miel (Antwerp, Belgium, 1599 – Turin, Italy, 1663)

Born in Antwerp, Belgium, in 1599, Jan Miel is commonly considered a pupil of Seghers.

In 1636, he settled in Rome, where he joined the group of the Bamboccianti and became a friend of Pieter van Laer. He also took part in the Academy of Saint Luke and the Congregation of the Virtuosi.

In Rome, alongside Andrea Sacchi, he contributed to the decoration of Palazzo Barberini. A few years later, Pietro da Cortona invited him to join the group of painters (“the most celebrated painters of the time”) working on the decoration of the gallery of Pope Alexander VII at the Quirinal Palace.

From 1658, he was commissioned by Charles Emmanuel II, Duke of Savoy, to work on the decoration of the Royal Palace of Turin and the newly built Palace of Venaria. At the Palace of Venaria, he created a cycle of frescoes on the ceiling of the Hall of Diana and ten hunting scenes dedicated to the Duke.

Miel died in Turin in 1663.

Photo UniCredit Group (Sebastiano Pellion di Persano)