(Jan), called Giovanni della Vite, a most eminent painter, was born in Flanders in 1590. He was at first a disciple of Gerard Seghers, in whose school he made a distinguished figure; but he quitted that art, and went to Italy, to improve himself in design, and to obtain a more extensive knowledge of the several branches of his art. At Rome he particularly studied and copied the works of the Caracci and Corregio; and was admitted into the academy of Andrea Sacchi, where he gave such evident proofs of extraordinary merit and genius, that he was invited by Andrea to assist him in a grand design which he had already begun. But Miel, through some disgust, rejected those elevated subjects which at first had engaged his attention, refused the friendly proposal of Sacchi, and chose to imitate the style of Bamboccio, as having more of that nature which pleased his own imagination. His general subjects were huntings, carnivals, gypsies, beggars, pastoral scenes, and conversations; of those he composed his easel-pictures, which are the finest of his performances. But he also painted history in a large size in fresco, and in oil; which, though they seem to want elevation of design, and a greater degree of grace in the heads, yet appear superior to what might be expected from a painter of such low subjects as he generally was fond of representing. His pictures of huntings are particularly admired: the figures and animals of every species being designed with uncommon spirit, nature, and truth. The transparency of his colouring, and the clear tints of his skies, enliven his compositions; nor are his paintings in any degree inferior to those of Bamboccio either in their force or effect. His large works are not so much to be commended for the goodness of the design as for the expression and colouring; but it is in his small pieces that the pencil of Miel appears in its greatest delicacy and beauty. The singular merit of this master recommended him to the favour of Charles Emmanuel duke of Savoy, who invited him to his court, where he appointed Miel his principal painter, and afterwards honoured him with the order of St Mauritius, and made him a present of a cross set with diamonds of a great value, as a particular mark of his esteem. He died in 1664.