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Chronology*

1889
10 October
Han van Meegeren is born in Deventer as the third child of Roman Catholic parents
until 1907
During his secundary education at the Hogere Burger School he receives private drawing lessons from Bartus Korteling (1853-1930), the father of his friend Willem Korteling
1907
His father sends him to Delft to study architecture.
He becomes a member of the Catholic Student Society Sanctus Vergilius
1912
spring
Marries Anna de Voogt
1912
August
His son Jacques is born
1913
8 January
Wins first prize in a drawing competition held by the General Sciences department of the College of Advanced Technology who commissioned the drawing of an interior of a church
His winning entry depicts the interior of the St. Laurens Church in Rotterdam
1914
M.O. diploma in drawing
1915
March
His daughter Pauline (later changed in Inez) is born.
1917
24 April tot 22 May
First solo exhibition in Kunstzaal Pictura, Den Haag
1919
2 December
Member of the Haagsche Kunstkring (Art Society at The Hague)
1921
Travels through Italy for three months
1922
17 May till 7 June
Exhibition of Bijbelsche tafereelen (Biblical scenes) in Kunstzaal Biesing, The Hague (see Jezus en de Cijnspenning and Graflegging in My Collection)
1923
23 March
Divorce between Han van Meegeren and Anna de Voogt
Laughing cavalier and Satisfied smoker by 'Frans Hals' appear on the market
1924/1925
Secretary of the painting and sculpture department of the Haagsche Kunstkring (Art Society at The Hague)
1927
November
A free reproduction called 'Hertje' (Young Deer) by Van Meegeren for those who partake in the lottery of the Haagsche Kunstkring.
1928
12 November
Marries the actrice Jo Oerlemans, former wife of the art critic C.H. de Boer
1928
April
Founding of the monthly magazine De Kemphaan (The Fighting Cock)
The magazine opposes the progressive, modern art movements
Han contributes articles for De Kemphaan and designs the cover
1930
March
Final edition of De Kemphaan
1932
October
The discovery of Man and Woman at a Spinet in Vermeer-stylel, is announced by Bredius in Burlington Magazine

After a controversy in the Haagsche Kunstking about his position, Han gives up his membership
Autumn
Van Meegeren and his wife move to Roquebrune, South of France
1935-1936
Van Meegeren produces four (unsold) paintings in 17th century style;
Woman Playing Music and Woman Reading a Letter in Vermeer-style, Malle Babbe in Frans Hals-style and Portrait of a Man in Ter Borch-style
1936-1937
Van Meegeren paints Christ at Emmaus in Vermeer-style
1937
Early September
Christ at Emmaus is indentified by Bredius as a painting of Vermeer
1938
18 June
Official delivery of Christ at Emmaus to Museum Boymans van Beuningen (Rotterdam), purchased with financial donations of the Rembrandt society, Rotterdam ship-owner W. van der Vorm, Dr. A. Bredius and some Rotterdam private persons
25 June till 15 October
Exhibition Meesterwerken uit vier eeuwen 1400-1800 (Masterpieces from four centuries 1400-1800) in Museum Boymans
Top attraction is Christ at Emmaus
Summer
Van Meegeren moves to Nice and paints The Card Players and The Drinking Party in Pieter de Hooch-style
In 1939 this last painting is sold to D.G. van Beuningen, through Rens Strijbis and art dealer Hoogendijk
1939
Over a 17th century painting of Govert Flinck (a pupil of Rembrandt), Han paints The Last Supper in Vermeer-style
Autumn
Because of the threat of the war, Han returns back to Holland, leaving The Last Supper behind in Nice
1940-1941
Van Meegeren paints a second version of The Last Supper and Head of Christ in Vermeer-style
The Last Supper is painted over a Hunting scene by Abraham Hondius that was bought by Van Meegeren on May 29 1940 at the art dealer Douwes in Amsterdam
1941
Sells through Rens Strijbis and artdealer Hoogendijk the Head of Christ and the second version of The Last Supper in Vermeer-stylel to D.G. van Beuningen
He also paints Isaac Blessing Jacob which is bought by W. van der Vorm, Washing of Christ Feet bought by Rijksmuseum (Amsterdam) and Christ and the Adultress in Vermeer-style
The Card Players that he painted earlier is also sold to Van der Vorm.
8 November till 1 December
Exhibition of drawings by Han van Meegeren, Hotel Hampdorf in Laren (see The Cherry Eaters My collection)
1942
from 3 January
Exhibition of drawings in Parnoram Mesdag, The Hague

Book published: Han van Meegeren, Teekeningen I (Drawings I)
1943
Divorce executed between Van Meegeren and Jo Oerlemans because of financial reasons

Christ and the Adultress is sold to Marshall Hermann Goring
1945
22 May
Captain Harry Anderson discovers Christ and the Adultress in Goring' art collection
Soon the traces lead to Van Meegeren
29 May
Arrest of Van Meegeren on accusation of collaboration, by selling 'a Vermeer' to Goring
After two weeks of imprisonment, on June 12 Han confesses that he is the counterfeiter of Christ at Emmaus and other paintings
August till half October
As proof of his confession Han paints Young Christ in Vermeer-style
1946
Marie Louise Doudart de La Gree writes in co-operation with Van Meegeren the book Emmaus
13 April
Dr. A Bredius passes away
1947
29 October
Proces
On November 12 Van Meegeren is convicted to one year in prison
30 December
Van Meegeren gets a hearattack and passes away in the Valeriusclinic
1950
5 september
Van Meegeren's household effects are auctioned in his house Keizersgracht 321 in Amsterdam
1955
Till the day of his death in October 1955 D.G. van Beuningen is still convinced that Christ at Emmaus and The Last Supper are originals by Vermeer
1971
februari
Christ at Emmaus after 24 years exposed in Museum Boymans van Beuningen in Rotterdam
1984
7 juli
D. Hannema passes away
He also believed till his death, in the genuinness of Christ at Emmaus