The brothers and children of Herman Verelst: the myth of Cornelius and Maria Verelst

The Verelst were a multigenerational family of artists. Forced to move from the Low Countries in the 1660s for financial reasons, Pieter Verelst and four sons (Herman, Simon, John (1648-1679), William (1651-1702)) found success in varying degrees in London. Most of Herman’s children (Lodvick, John (ca. 1670-1734), Michael and Adriana) practised as portraitists, again to varying degrees, as did one grandson (William (1704-1752)). Their successes and failures can partly be mapped to fluctuations in the Dutch and British art markets from 1660-1750. The financial situations of later members of the family can more easily be explained by success or failure in marriage. There may be evidence of the earlier family members working together to service the growth in auction markets of ca. 1685-1695. Early literature includes references to “Maria Verelst” and Cornelius Verelst”. It is argued that these should be identified as Adriana and William (1651-1702).