Pieter van Ruijven

Pieter Claeszoon van Ruijven (December 1624 – 7 August 1674) has been known as Johannes Vermeer's main patron for the better part of the artist's career, but in 2023 his wife Maria de Knuijt was identified by the curators of the 2023 exhibition of Vermeer's works at the Rijksmuseum, in Amsterdam as the main patron due to her long-standing and supportive relationship with the artist. He built a sizeable estate from inheritances he and his wife received and fruitful investments. In 1669, he became the Lord of Spalant when he purchased land owned by Willem, Baron van Renesse. Personal life Van Ruijven was born in December 1624, the son of Niclaes Pietersz and Maria Graswinckel. His father was master of the Camer van Charitate in Deflt (municipal charitable department) from 1623 to 1624 and the brewer at the Ox Brewery. The brewery failed about 1650 after Niclaes Pietersz died. Pieter's brother was Johan (also Jan) van Ruijven, a notary. Van Ruijven and his paternal family members were Remonstrants, and some were considered loyal to Oldenbarnevelt. As a result, they were unable to seek the most important municipal positions. Van Ruijven was related to artist Pieter Jansz van Ruyven. Van Ruiven was related to artists of the Delff family through the marriage of Christina Delff to his cousin Jan Hermansz. van Ruijven. The artists include Christina's brother Jacob Willemsz Delff and her nephew Willem Jacobsz Delff, an engraver. Jacob Delff's father-in-law was Michiel Jansz. van Mierevelt. He was also related to the Graswinckels and Van Santens, Dutch noble families. Van Ruijven married Maria Simonsdr de Knuijt in August 1653. De Knuijt was a Dutch Reformed Protestant. Van Ruijven was not known to have a profession, but de Knuijt and van Ruijven were well-off and had two homes in Delft. From 1668 to 1674, Van Ruijven was master of the Camer van Charitate, which provided relief to the poor and served as a diaconate for Delft. His fortune was made through wise investments of the riches they inherited, including investment in the Dutch East India Company. De Knuijt brought most of the wealth into the marriage. Van Ruijven became the Lord of Spalant when he purchased the land from Willem, Baron of Renesse on 11 April 1669. He used his new-found title when he witnessed the testament of Vermeer's sister. The van Ruijven family, who lived off the Oude Canal in Delft, were members of the Arminian party in the Dutch Reformed Church.