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Hans Memling (or Memlinc)

Chronology

Born in Seligenstadt (Hesse, Germany; near Mainz). Date and early training unknown. Probably spent some time in Mainz and Cologne (though too young to have studied with Stefan Lochner (d.1451)

1465: First mentioned in the city archives of Bruges, when he becomes a citizen, stating his birthplace as Seligenstadt.

Strong influence from the work of Rogier van der Weyden causes speculation that M. may have spent time in his studio--despite fact that v.d.W. died in June 1464, and lived in Brussels. Weyden arguably the most imitated artist of his day, though, and Memling could have seen his major late altarpiece, the Columba A., in Cologne before coming to the Netherlands.

1470-80: Marries Anna van Valkenaere (d.1487). Three sons from this marriage.

1473: Altarpiece for Italian client, Jacopo Tani (Medici agent for Bruges).

1478/79: Commission for altarpiece for the Book Illuminators' Guild (St. Eloy).

1479: Two triptychs for the Hospital of St. John, Bruges.

1480: Commission for altarpiece for Bruges Tanners' Guild.

1480: Buys large stone house and two adjoining houses. Tax records show him to be one of Bruges's wealthiest citizens.

1480, 1483: Registers apprentices with Bruges Guild of St. Luke.

1489: Dedication of the Shrine of St. Ursula, made for the nuns of St. John's Hospital.

1491: Altarpiece for Heinrich Greverade of Lubeck (northern Germany)

1494: Dies, highly praised as "best painter in the world".

Memling's parents' house in Seligenstadt still stands, and is one of the "better" houses of the time. He was a distant ancestor of Goethe's mother, so had a big reputation in 19th century. Fell into disfavor for a while in 20th c., but is still the only "Flemish primitive" who has his own museum (the forner St. John's Hospital in Bruges.)

For more on Memling see: