Saint Mark the Evangelist serves as a primary example of the prolific output produced by Jan Lievens during the Dutch Golden Age. Active as a painter, printmaker, etcher, and draftsperson, he achieved early recognition in Leiden before establishing a career that spanned across London, Antwerp, Berlin, The Hague, and Amsterdam throughout the seventeenth century.
Early Development and Rembrandt Partnership
Born in Leiden in 1607, Lievens received early instruction from Joris Verschoten and later apprenticed under Pieter Lastman in Amsterdam for two years. Between 1626 and 1631, he shared a studio in Leiden with Rembrandt van Rijn. During this period, the two artists engaged in a competitive collaboration, producing roughly two dozen paintings, drawings, and etchings. Their shared proximity and stylistic overlap often complicate the attribution of works from this phase, though Lievens demonstrated a distinct preference for life-size compositions influenced by the Caravaggisti.
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Lievens gained notoriety by age twelve, attracting the attention of Maurice of Nassau, Prince of Orange. By 1631, he received an invitation to the British court, where he painted a portrait of Thomas Howard, 21st Earl of Arundel, and integrated influences from the work of Anthony van Dyck. His career subsequently brought him to Antwerp, where he married Suzanna Colyn de Nole in 1638. Later, he served as a court painter in The Hague and Berlin before permanently returning to Amsterdam in 1655.
Professional Output and Financial Decline
Throughout his career, Lievens secured significant commissions from royalty, mayors, and city halls. Notable productions include a Continence of Scipio for the Leiden city hall and a mantle-piece painting for the mayor's office in Amsterdam, which was celebrated in a poem by Joost van den Vondel. Despite this professional success, his final years were marked by hardship following the 1672 Rampjaar. He died in Amsterdam in 1674, leaving behind substantial debts that led his family to waive all inheritance claims.
Fast facts
- Born: 1607, Leiden
- Died: 1674, Amsterdam
- Occupations: painter, etcher, printmaker, draftsperson
- Notable work: Saint Mark the Evangelist
- Collaborated with: Rembrandt van Rijn
- Notable commission: Continence of Scipio
- Rediscovery: 2022 drawing sold for 1.35 million euros
Questions readers ask
Did Jan Lievens and Rembrandt share a studio?
Yes, the two artists shared a workspace in Leiden from approximately 1626 to 1631.
What is the status of the long-lost drawing found in 2022?
A missing drawing by Lievens was rediscovered and auctioned by Christopher Bishop Fine Art for 1.35 million euros at TEFAF Maastricht in 2022.
Achievements
- Notable work: Saint Mark the Evangelist
