Hals, Frans (c. 1581-1666)

Cartesian dualism, the idea that the universe is made up of matter and of mind, was a philosophy put forward by the French philosopher and mathematician René Descartes (1596-1650), seen here in a portrait by the Dutch painter Frans Hals. The philosopher was frequently attacked by the Catholic Church for his beliefs, and spent the later years of his life in the Protestant Netherlands.

Flemish-born painter. The pioneer in the Dutch school of free, broad brushwork, he painted directly on to the canvas to create portraits that are spontaneous and full of life. His work includes the famous Laughing Cavalier (1624; Wallace Collection, London), and group portraits of military companies, governors of charities, and others.

He became one of the greatest of the Dutch portrait painters, his fluent method of painting disciplined by great economy of colour. Almost nothing of his early career is known, but one of his earliest works, The Banquet of the Officers of the St George Militia Company 1616 (Frans Hals Museum, Haarlem) is strikingly original. In its naturalness and vivacity it completely outmoded the conventional group portraits, with their stiff figures in dull poses.

After 1650 he received fewer commissions and his art became quieter and more contemplative. He used muted colour as his analysis of human character became more searching, and his subjects lost their light-hearted charm. During his last years he painted perhaps his most important works, the two deeply moving group portraits of the administrators of the almshouses of Haarlem 1664 (Frans Hals Museum, Haarlem). In their stark portrayal of old age they are equal to Rembrandt's profoundest works.

Probably born in Antwerp, he settled in Haarlem when a boy and was trained in the studio of the painter and biographer of art Karel van Mander. In spite of numerous commissions, he was often in debt and in old age he an his wife were inmates of the almshouse that is now the Frans Hals Museum. It contains his great groups and is mainly a memorial to him, though including other works by Haarlem artists. He had ten childen, all seven sons becoming painters.