Vigor van Heede



Vigor van Heede (1661 – 8 April 1708) was a Flemish painter. He and his brother Willem traveled to France, Germany, and Italy. While his brother stayed longer in Italy, Vigor sojourned longer in Rome, where he improved so much that the price for his paintings became exceedingly high and the Holy Roman Emperor Leopold I invited him to his court.

He favored painting still lifes and history paintings.

Biography
He was born in Veurne, in Flanders, in 1661, to Jan van Heede. His older brother Willem was also a painter.

He and his brother traveled to France, Germany, and Italy. It was in Italy that Vigor, and his brother Willem, perfected their techniques. They lived for a long time in Italy, and therefore left in this country the majority of their works. Willem resided for a longer time in Italy. However, Vigor sojourned longer in Rome.

In Rome, Vigor improved so much that the price for his paintings soared impressively. His reputation grew to such an extent that the Holy Roman Emperor Leopold I invited him to work in his court. Heede would also work for other princes in Germany. He often painted still lifes and history paintings.

Pilkington writes that in his day (18th century) Heede's works could be seen in Rome, Venice, and Naples. Pilkington also wrote that an important work of this master, depicting the martyrdom of a Saint, could be seen in Heede's hometown of Veurne, in the local Church of Saint Walburg (Sint-Walburgakerk). Pilkington compared Heede's painting to de Lairesse's style, "full of spirit and genius in the composition", with colors having a natural tone and with a judicious chiaroscuro.

He died in his hometown of Veurne on 8 April 1708.