Netherlandish immigrant painters in Naples (1575-1654): Aert Mytens, Louis Finson, Abraham Vinck, Hendrick De Somer and Matthias Stom

The aim of this research is to chart and analyze the process of artistic and social integration of five painters from the Netherlands who settled in Naples: Aert Mytens, Louis Finson, Abraham Vinck, Hendrick De Somer and Matthias Stom. The mobility of artists is an important factor in the development of art. Early modern artists were remarkably mobile. Some of them settled in a new city for a considerable amount of time or even remained there for the rest of their career. The necessity to integrate and define a position within the new artistic and social context was much more pressing for these artists than for the many artists who returned to their home country after a relatively brief (study) sojourn. Depending on the available visual and documentary material - which differs greatly from artist to artist - I define different forms of social and professional interaction with compatriots and Neapolitans; I analyze their artistic production in Naples, the way in which they positioned themselves as artists in the Neapolitan art scene and the role played by local professional and religious institutions in their integration process.