MW

Melchior Wyntgis (15??-1626 or later). Originally he was a Mintmaster in Middelburg; became a rich brewer; entered Delft 1592, marrying a local woman. In 1612 he became Auditor general in Brussels. Cited as living in Delft in 1626.

In Delft he lived In den Oyevaer (in the Stork) at east side of Voorstraat. He owned an outstanding collection of paintings which was visited by Aernout van Buchell (1565? -1641) in 1598.

Wyntgis sold his Delft brewery for 12.500 guilders in 1601 and moved out of Delft. In an 1618 inventory made in Brussels were paintings by major masters: Jan van Eijck, Hieronymus Bosch and Jan van Scorel.

In 1604 Karel van Mander states that he owned a fine series of paintings by Cornelis van Haarlem.

Note. GAD 1e Poorterboek, Oud Arch. I inv. 404 fol. 196-v. Van Mander. Montias 1982, p. 56. Description and inventory in Hymans 1889. His most expensive painting, Van Eyck's 'Mary and Angels' was valued at 1200 guilders. Voorstraat in Soutendam Necrologium, p. 11. His name is not mentioned in the major Dutch and Belgian biography handbooks. Cornelis van Haarlem: see exh. cat. Metropolitan Museum of Art, 'Vermeer and the Delft School', page 39.

This page forms part of a large encyclopedic site on Delft. Research by Drs. Kees Kaldenbach (email). A full presentation is on view at johannesvermeer.info.

Launched 16 February 2005; Last update March 1, 2017. More info in the RKD site.