Simon de Koster
A Life in Portraiture Born in Middelburg, Netherlands, in 1767, Simon de Koster moved through a period of profound European upheaval. His early training began at the Academy in his birthplace, where he first learned to translate the human likeness onto canvas. This foundation led him to become a pupil of Thomas Gael, a mentorship that helped shape his technical approach to the portrait. By 1788, his path took him away from the Low Coun…
The Lifeline
Scroll through Simon de Koster's working life — artwork by artwork, chapter by chapter — from the earliest dated work to the last. Each thumbnail is pinned at its exact year on the gold axis.
Chapters — Career Periods
The ribbon is divided into shaded bands, one per career chapter. Each chapter groups Simon de Koster's works by their historical period — early training, mature practice, final years.
Thumbnails — Dated Works
Every thumbnail is pinned at its precise creation year. A thin gold thread drops from the image to its exact point on the axis. Larger frames mark the artist's masterpieces by rank.
Colour Band — Movement Drift
The gradient bar beneath the axis shifts colour as the dominant art movement changes over time — from the warm golds of the early period through the deeper tones of maturity. It fills progressively as you scroll.