Frans Hals was born in Antwerp, around 1582. He is the famous 17th-century Dutch portrait painter who worked, lived and spent the rest of his life here in Haarlem.
Hals painted vast portraits of people smiling or laughing from all levels of society. He is known for his playful technique, with lively (visible) brushstrokes. His most famous painting is the life-sized group portrait, The Banquet of the Officers of the St George Militia Company (1616), commissioned by the civic guard of Haarlem, which can be seen at Frans Hals Museum. His other paintings include Laughing Boy (1625) on display at Maurithuis and Jester with a Lute (1620-1625) on display at Musée du Louvre. Frans Hals Museum HOF in Haarlem features the largest collection of Frans Hals’ works.
Frans Hals died on 26 August 1666, at a respectable age of 84 years old. He was buried right here on 1 September 1666, in the Grote Kerk (translation: Great Church) or Sint Bavo Church of Haarlem.
But why are there two graves of Frans Hals?
Back in the day, to be buried in a church was an expensive affair. Frans Hals died penniless. His style of painting was considered old-fashioned and therefore, did not receive enough commissions. He could not have afforded a burial plot in the Great Church of Haarlem.
He was buried without his name mentioned in a grave that belonged to Nicolaes Ghyblant. This Ghyblant was the maternal grandfather of Frans Hals’ first wife, Anneke Harmens. He was a reputable alderman of the city and was therefore buried in the choir of the church. The grave was later bequeathed to Hals family through Anneke’s mother, Pietertje Claesdatter. Grave number 56 in the lower choir became a family burial plot. Frans Hals was laid to rest on 1 September 1666, interred under Nicholas Ghyblnant tombstone. Unknown!
Two hundred years later, Frans Hals was rediscovered and transformed into an idol. A French political journalist, Théophile Thoré-Búrger (1807-1869) was the first to appreciate Frans Hals’ style and technique. He restored Hals’ good name and was responsible for a massive resurgence of interest in Hals’ work. Hals was finally recognized as one of Haarlem’s most important painters.
By 1918, Frans Hals’ name was added to that of Nicholas Ghyblant on the gravestone. (Source: Oneindig Noord-Holland)
In 1962, when the Frans Hals Museum celebrated its 100th anniversary, it was decided that Frans Hals deserved a tombstone of his own. A new simple plaque was designed, laying 3 places to the right from the first grave, unveiled on 31 August 2021.
That explains the two graves of Frans Hals.
📍Grote of Sint Bavokerk, Haarlem.
Honestly, I was expecting a more elaborate story.
