LEYDEN, Lucas van. one cf the most celebrated paintcrs of the early Dutch school, was born in Leyden in 1494. His talents, which were developed when he was very young, were first cultivated by his father. Hugo Jacobs, an obscure painter; bnt lie was afterward placed in the school of Cornelius Engelbrechsten. an artist of repute in his day. lie commenced engraving; when scarcely time years of age. His picture of St. Hubert. painted when he was only 12, brought him very high commendation; and the celebrated print, so well known to collectors by the of " Mahomet and the "Monk Sergius," was published in 1508, when he was only 14. He practiced successfully almost every branch of painting. was one of the ablest of those early painters who engraved their own works, and he succeeded, like Albert Dnrer, in imparting certain qualities of delicacy and finish to his engravings that no mere engraver ever attained. The pictures of Lucas van Leyden are noted for clearness and delicacy in color, variety of character and expression; but his drawing is hard and gothic in form. Examples are
to be seen in ninny of the galleries on the continent.. His range of subjects was very wide. and embraced events in sacred history, incidents illustrative of the manners of his own period, and portraits. His engravings are very highly prized by collectors, and arc ranked about as ithrhly as those of Albert Darer. He also executed some wood-cuts, which are very rare. Bartsch gives a list of 174 engravings by him. his habits were expensive. Ile seems to have occasionally entertained his brother-artists itt a sumps ens manner; was on terms of intimacy with the celebrated painter, Jean de Mabuse,who is alleged to have been rather too fetid of good living; and held friendly intercourse with Albert Miser, whose talents he admired without professional jealousy. He married in early life a lady of the noble family of Boshagen, by whom he had one daughter. lie died in 1533, aged 89. He had been confined to bed 0 years before his death, but con trivt•l to paint and engrave till within a short period of his decease.