W.M. (WILLEM MATTHIJS) MARIS


Artists

Biography

W.M. (WILLEM MATTHIJS) MARIS
1872 Den Haag - 1929 Den Haag

Matthijs was the son and pupil of Jacob Maris. In addition to his talent for painting, young Willem Matthijs played the violin well. After studying both at home with his father and at the Hague Academy, he went to Amsterdam to the Rijksacademie where he was taught by A. Allebé and Nicolaas van der Waay. Then, after some time, he returned to The Hague. He loved socializing and having people around him. He had many portrait commissions, which made him so well-known that he also commissioned portraits from Queen Wilhelmina. The Maris family often served as models for the more informal scenes. The relationship with his uncle Willem was particularly close, as can be seen in his correspondence and the visits Willem Matthijs made to London, where his uncle lived. Willem Matthijs died young, aged 56, in his beloved The Hague. The work of W.M. Maris is soft in appearance. His portraits appear shrouded, regardless of the medium he uses.