VERELST, Herman Pietersz. - b. ~1641 Dordrecht, d. 1702 London

Dutch painter, part of a family of artists, son and pupil of Pieter Verelst, brother of Simon and Johannes Verelst. After they both joined the Guild of Saint Luke in The Hague in 1663 Herman and Simon Verelst first lived together in Voorburg, just outside The Hague.

Herman Verelst married in Amsterdam an Italian girl from Venice in 1667 or in 1670. In 1680 he is recorded in Italy, a bit later in Vienna. Fearing the advancing Turkish armies in Central Europe he finally moved to London in 1683, where his brother Simon had made himself an important reputation.

Herman Verelst was a portrait painter; there are also a few nice flower still-lifes and religious paintings known by him. Two children of Herman Verelst were also painters: Cornelis of flowers and Maria of portraits.