Lievens (Livens, or Lywyns), Jan
Lievens (Livens, or Lywyns), Jan a Dutch painter and engraver, was born at Leyden, October 24, 1607, and was placed under the direction of George van Schooten, but when ten years of age was placed under Peter Lastman. He painted a number of fine works while quite young, which procured him a favorable reception at the court of England, where he resided three years. At Brussels, in the Church of the Jesuits, is his Visitation of the Virgin, and in the Church of St. James, at Antwerp, a fine picture of The Holy Family. In 1641 he returned, to Leyden, where he executed his celebrated pictures of David sand Basthsheba and The Sacrifice of Abraham. He died probably in 1663. The following is a list of some of his best prints: The Holy Family; The Virgin Presenting a Pear to the Infant Jesus; St. John the Evangelist; St. Jerome in a Cell, holding a Crucifix; The Raising of Lazarus. See Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, s.v.; Spooner, Biog. Hist. of the Fine Arts, s.v.
