Jacob de Heusch (1656-1701)

Jacob de Heusch (1656-1701), was a Dutch painter. He was Willem de Heusch's nephew, signing like his uncle, substituting an initial J for the initial G (of Guglielmo). De Heusch was born in Utrecht. He learnt drawing from his uncle, and travelled to Rome in 1675, where he acquired friends and patrons for whom he executed pictures after his return. According to Houbraken, he became a member of the Bentvueghels and made trips to Venice and other cities with friends, painting in the manner of Salvator Rosa. After several years in Italy he returned to Utrecht, where he lived with his brother, a postmaster. He continued painting, but was not highly productive, and most of his work was sent to Italy. According to the RKD his Bent nickname was 'Afdruk' or 'Copia', and he was registered in Rome in 1686, 1691 and 1692. Like his relative, Jacob was an "Arcadian" and an imitator of Jan Both. He chiefly painted Italian harbour views. His pictures are now scarce. Two of his canvases, the "Ponte Rotto" at Rome, in the Brunswick Gallery, and a lake harbour with shipping in the Lichtenstein collection at Vienna, are dated 1696. A harbour with a tower and distant mountains, in the Belvedere at Vienna, was executed in 1699. Other examples may be found in English private galleries, in the Hermitage of St Petersburg and the museums of Rouen and Montpellier.