A Master of Dutch Realism: The Life and Art of Johannes Cornelisz Verspronck Johannes Cornelisz Verspronck, a name perhaps less immediately recognizable than his celebrated contemporary Frans Hals, nevertheless occupies a significant position within the pantheon of Dutch Golden Age portraiture. Born in Haarlem sometime between 1600 and 1603 – recent archival research suggests closer to 1606-1609 than previously believed – Verspronck dedicated his life to capturing the likenesses, and more importantly, the *essence* of his fellow citizens. His career unfolded during a period of unprecedented…