Johannes Neyt the Younger

Johannes Neyt (1661-1724), commonly known as "the Younger" (de Jongere) was a Brunanter painter during the Golden age of art in Brunant.

Biography
Neyt was born in Grijzestad in the Neyt family. His father, Johan Alexander Neyt, was a notable military commander during the Brunanter Civil War. His grandfather, Johannes Neyt the Elder was a notable portraitist in the 17th century. Neyt inherited a passion for painting and learned under his grandfather's assistant, Anton Castelle. Many of his work dealt with the Civil War period, farm work and countryside scenes. He was also known for using lots of yellow tones.

With the death of his father in 1686 he inherited his house, bt also his high debts. During his early life he lived in relative poverty and only made about 120€ (in 2008) per painting. He died in 1724, a poor man, and still owed about Th. 2,700 to various merchants and bankers.

Legacy
Neyt would become known for his landscape pictures and has often been cited as the man who started the golden age; indeed van Helsinger, Ricard and even Blomefont van Steins' early work was heavily based on Neyt's style. By 1800 his work was being sold for over Th. 1000 each; The Resilient Patriot (1707) was purchased by King Adrian II in 1796 for Th. 3900. Much of his work has been lost over the years, and his work can command upwards of €80,000.