Lairesse, Gerard

Lairesse, Gerard an eminent Flemish painter, was born at Liege in 1640. He studied under Bertholet Flemael, and at the age of sixteen had gained considerable reputation from his efforts. He visited Utrecht, and afterwards removed to Amsterdam, where his reputation rose so high that the Dutch esteem him their greatest historical painter. He died at Amsterdam in 1711. The following are some of his best works: The Fall of our First Parents; Adam

and Eve Driven from Paradise; Joseph and his Brethren; The Child Jesus. See Chalmers, Biog. Dict. s.v.; Spooner, Biog. Hist. of the Fine Arts, s.v.