MIEL, JAN, called by the Italians Giovanni della Vite, a Flemish painter, was born in 1599 at Vlaenderen, a village in the neighbourhood of Antwerp. He studied under Gerard Seghers; and after making considerable progress
in his art, he went to Rome, and entered the academy of Andrea Sacchi. But in consequence of a disagreement with his master he left the imperial city for a time, and went to Bologna and Parma, where he further improved himself by the study of the works of the Caracci and of Correggio. Returning to Rome, he executed for the pope several historical paintings of great excellence; but his taste, which seems to have been capricious, now rather inclined to the painting of familiar scenes, after the manner of Bamboccio. He was invited to the court of Charles Emmanuel, Duke of Savoy, whose patronage he enjoyed, and by whom he was honoured with the order of St. Maurice. Mieris died in 1664 at Turin. His pictures represent chiefly carnivals, fairs, beggars, gypsies, and hunting scenes; and are remarkable as spirited and correct representations of nature; but his colours are in many instances too dark and gloomy.