A Master of Dutch Refinement: The Life and Art of Michiel van Musscher Born in Rotterdam in January 1645, Michiel van Musscher emerged during the latter stages of the Dutch Golden Age, a period renowned for its artistic innovation and societal prosperity. From an early age, a remarkable talent for drawing was evident, nurtured by a family with artistic inclinations – his father, though primarily a grocer, had once been a painter, and both grandfathers practiced the craft. This familial connection undoubtedly played a role in shaping young Michiel’s path. His formal training began at fifteen,…