Lucas van Leyden
1494 - 1533
Netherlandish engraver and painter, born and died in Leiden.
Lucas is most famous for his graphic work, which has technical similarities with the art of staining glass. He probably taught himself how to make engravings. His work bridges late Gothic and Renaissance art with, amongst other things, attention given to perspective. The quality of his work is often compared to that of his contemporary Albrecht Dürer, whose acquaintance Van Leyden makes in Antwerp, in 1521. In addition to creating engravings, Van Leyden paints. Some 15 works may be attributed to him with certainty.
It is known that Rembrandt owned a complete collection of Lucas's prints. The masters shared a preference for depicting scenes from everyday life.
Lucas van Leyden dies in 1533 after a long sickbed.
art