Young Dairymaid

1649

Moves to The Hague: a house from van Goyen

Potter rents a house in The Hague from the painter Jan van Goyen and joins the local painters' guild; for several years he lives next door to van Goyen.

1649–1652 · Munkahely

The Hague

3 July 1650

Marries Adriana van Balckeneynde

Potter marries Adriana van Balckeneynde, daughter of the Hague master carpenter and building contractor Claes Dircksz, who lived nearby; his father-in-law introduces him to the Dutch elite. None of their children will reach adulthood.

1 May 1652

Moves to Amsterdam at Tulp's invitation

At the invitation of the physician Nicolaes Tulp, who already owned a number of his paintings, Potter goes to Amsterdam. Impressed by the artist's civilized behaviour and politeness, Tulp has him paint his son Dirck as a noble equestrian, life-size, with the head painted on a portrait originally intended for someone else.

1652–1654 · Munkahely

Amsterdam

2 January 1653

Makes his will

Potter composes his will; a little over a year later he will die of tuberculosis.