Pieter Jacobsz Olycan

Pieter Jacobsz Olycan, by Frans Hals

Pieter Jacobsz Olycan (1572 – 1658), was a Dutch brewer, magistrate, and later mayor of Haarlem, best known today for his portraits by Frans Hals, as well as for the portraits of his wife Maritge Claesdr. Voogt.

Biography

Previously assumed to be a copy of the 3/4 length portrait, this smaller panel by Frans Hals is now considered to predate it by 5 years or so.

He was a merchant in oils and grains in Amsterdam with a warehouse called "In den Olycan", which became his name. He was also a brewer in Haarlem on the Spaarne river with a large brewery called the "Vogelstruys".^[1] Pieter Olycan was one of three brewers from Haarlem who sold his “Vogelstruys” beer from a 'bierstekerij' on the Bierkade in Purmerend.^[2] He married Maritje Claesdr Voogt and through her he became the brother-in-law to two more brewers of Haarlem. They became the parents of:^[3][4]

1. Jacob, who later followed in his father's footsteps
2. Dorothea, who married Cornelis van Loo of brewery De Drie Leliën
3. IJsbrant, who studied law
4. Volckje, who married Johan Schatter
5. Nicolaes, who married Agatha Dicx of brewery Het Scheepje
6. Maria, who married the brewer Andries van Hoorn
7. Hester, who married Tyman Oosdorp

Pieter Olycan was a member of the Haarlem regency and became a magistrate and mayor of Haarlem, and served in the Haarlem Cluveniers Civic guard. He was portrayed by Hendrik Gerritsz Pot in his group portrait of the St Adrian Civic Guard in 1630.

• 
  Olycan is second from left in Pot's schutterstuk
• 
  His wife Maritge Claesdr Voogt
• 
  Her sister, Cornelia Claesdr Vooght
• 
  Her brother Willem Claesz Vooght as colonel in Hals' 1627 schutterstuk
• 
  Former brewery Vogelstruys on the Spaarne in Haarlem
• 
  Bierkade 9 in Purmerend, still called “De Vogelstruys”

• 
  Their son Jacob
• 
  Their daughter Maria

References

1. This was situated on the Donkere Spaarne next to the brewery "De Vos"
2. Story of beer in Purmerend on Oneindig Noord Holland
3. Frans Hals: Exhibition on the Occasion of the Centenary of the Municipal Museum at Haarlem, 1862-1962., pp 58-59, publication Frans Hals Museum, 1962
4. Collections of paintings in Haarlem, 1572-1745, by P Biesboer; Carol Togneri, Los Angeles, Getty Provenance Index, Getty Research Institute, 2001