Michiel Jansz van Middelhoven

Michiel Jansz van Middelhoven (1562–1638), was a Dutch theologian best known today for his portrait by Frans Hals.

Biography

He was born in Dordrecht and from 1592-1634 was pastor in Voorschoten. He was active against the Remonstrants and preached in Rotterdam in the Kruiskerk when all the other contra-remonstrants pastors had fled. He married Sara Andriesdr Hessix in Leiden in 1586 and they had 7 sons who all became pastors. The artist Jan van de Velde made a print of his portrait in 1626 with Latin inscriptions that was in the collection of Frits Lugt. Sara's pendant portrait to Michael's, in which she is also seated and holding a book, was also attributed to Hals by Hofstede de Groot and included as catalog #203:

"203. SARA ANDRIESDR. HESSIX, wife of M. J. van Middelhoven, married at Leyden, 1586. B. 58 ; M. 56. Three-quarter-length. She is seated almost in full face, but turned slightly to the left, and looks at the spectator. Her outstretched right hand rests on her bosom. Her left forearm rests on the arm of the chair, with a book in the left hand. She is in black with a white cap, a ruff, and wristbands. [Pendant to 202.] Canvas, 34 1/2 inches by 28 inches. In the collection of Count Andre Mniszech, Paris. In the possession of the Paris dealer F. Kleinberger. In the collection of A. de Ridder, Cronberg, near Frankfort-on-Main."

Pendants (40th wedding anniversary)