Jacques de Gheyn

Jacques de Gheyn was an artist active during the final decades of the 16th century, with his documented professional period spanning the years 1575 through 1591. Documentation suggests fifteen drawings by De Gheyn are represented in major museum collections, highlighting his legacy primarily as a draftsman.

De Gheyn’s documented works reveal a diverse range of subject matter, indicating an interest in both formal portraiture and detailed naturalistic observation. His surviving pieces include focused studies of the natural world, such as Four studies of a diseased mouse and the anatomical subject Sea Urchin. His abilities as a portraitist are evident in notable works including Portret van een man op zijn sterfbed, Portret van een voorname vrouw, and Portret van man van middelbare leeftijd met een hoed.

A significant portion of this output is conserved within the collections of the Rijksmuseum. The technical skill displayed in Jacques de Gheyn prints and drawings establishes him as a significant figure in late 16th-century European draftsmanship. Today, much of this historical record is now in the public domain, offering access to high-quality prints and downloadable artwork for scholarly appreciation and preservation.