Portretten van Hugo Jacobsz., Jan Massijs en Lucas Cornelisz. Kunst

About this artwork

Drie genummerde kunstenaarsportretten. Portret van Hugo Jacobsz. (nr. 1), Jan Massijs (nr. 2) en Lucas Cornelisz. Kunst (nr. 3). Prent rechtsonder gemerkt: I.

Art Historical Context

In the refined world of 18th-century Dutch printmaking, Jan lAdmiral's *Portretten van Hugosz., Jan Massijs en Lucas Cornelisz. Kunst (1764) stands as a compact tribute to three esteemed artists of earlier generations. This delicate etching, measuring just 157 mm high by 109 mm wide, features three numbered portraits—Hugo Jacobsz. (no. 1), Jan Massijs (no. 2), and Lucas Cornel. Kunst (no. 3)—carefully arranged to honor their legacies. Marked with a subtle "I" in the bottom right, it reflects the meticulous cataloging common in period prints. Etching, l'Admiral's chosen medium, allowed for intricate lines and tonal depth through acid-bitten plates, making it ideal for expressive portraits that could be widely reproduced and collected. Created amid a revival of interest in the Dutch Golden Age, this work preserves the likenesses of these Renaissance-era masters—painters and innovators whose contributions shaped Northern European art—bridging centuries for contemporary admirers. As a museum gem, it invites visitors to ponder the enduring chain of artistic influence, where a small print becomes a portal to history's creative heroes.

About the Artist

Jan l'Admiral · 1699–1773

Jan l'Admiral (1699–1773) was a pioneering Dutch engraver whose mastery of color mezzotint technique and collaboration with leading anatomists made him a crucial figure in both artistic printmaking and scientific illustration. Born in Amsterdam in 1699 to an engraver father of the same name, l'Admiral belonged to a family of printmakers and received training that would position him at the forefron...