Jan Lievens

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Image:Jan Lievens - Magdalena in meditatie.jpg Jan Lievens (1607–1674) was a painter from Leiden. In his early years he was a student of Pieter Lastman. After several years as an apprentice he began his career as an independent artist at age twelve. He collaborated and shared a studio with Rembrandt van Rijn in the 1620s. He painted on larger scales then Rembrandt, but was also judged as less expressive. He divided his time between Antwerp and England from 1632 to 1644. During his time in England he did a portrait for Thomas Howard, 21st Earl of Arundel and became influenced by the works of Anthony van Dyck. He also had increasing financial difficulties and his family voided all claims of inheritance on his death due to fears of his debts.