showing a wooded landscape with two women, with inscription 'W. vanMieris Fec' to the middle of the bottom, black chalk, black chalk framing lines, with other drawings to verso 25.5cm x 19.5cm

Willem van Mieris was a Dutch painter born in Leiden in 1662, and he died in 1747. He was the son of Frans van Mieris the Elder, a renowned painter and founder of the Leiden school of fijnschilders or "fine painters." Willem trained with his father and his brother, Jan van Mieris, who was also a successful painter.

Like his father and brother, Willem specialized in small-scale, highly detailed genre scenes and portraits, often depicting middle-class interiors and the daily life of Dutch citizens. He was particularly skilled at capturing textures and fabrics, and his paintings often feature richly decorated rooms and costumes.

Willem's style was heavily influenced by his father's work, but he also drew inspiration from other artists of the Dutch Golden Age, such as Johannes Vermeer and Gerard Dou. His paintings are characterized by their precise brushwork, luminous color, and attention to detail.

Despite his artistic talents, Willem van Mieris struggled with financial difficulties throughout his life. He had to sell many of his paintings to support his family, and he never achieved the same level of success as his father or brother. Nevertheless, he was highly respected by his contemporaries, and his work is still highly regarded today for its technical skill and beauty.

Some of Willem van Mieris' most famous works include "The Duet," "The Fish Seller," and "The Spinner." His paintings can be found in major museums around the world, including the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam and the Louvre in Paris.