Leyden, Lucas Van

Leyden, Lucas van one of the most celebrated painters of the early Dutch school, noted for his success in sacred art, was born in Leyden in 1494. His talents were early developed in the school of Cornelius Engelbrechsten, an artist of repute in his day. He commenced engraving when scarcely nine years of age. His picture of St. Hubert, painted when he was only twelve, brought him very high commendation; and the celebrated print, so well known to collectors by the name of "Mohammed and the Monk Sergius," was published in 1508, when he was only fourteen. He practiced successfully almost every branch of painting, was one of the ablest of those early painters who engraved their own works, and he succeeded. like Albert Dürer, in imparting certain qualities of delicacy and finish to his engravings that no mere engraver ever attained. His pictures are noted for clearness and delicacy in color, variety of character, and expression; but his drawing is hard and Gothic in form. His range of subjects was very wide, and embraced events in sacred history, incidents illustrative of the manners of his own period, and portraits. He died in 1533.