LUCAS VAN LEYDEN,. van li'den (1494 1533). A Dutch painter, line-engraver, and designer for woodcuts. He was born at Leyden. the son of Huig Jaeobsz. an engraver, from whom he received his first instruction. He also studied under Cornelis Engelbreehtsen in 150S, and at an early age was a celebrated engraver. When twenty-one years of age lie married a rich wife of the Bo•chiuzen family in his native town, and then made his residence in Antwerp. In 1521 he was elected a member of the Guild of Saint Luke, and in 1527 he traveled luxuriously through Belgium in company with .Jan Mabuse. He died in 1533, after a long illness.
His work is characterized by earnest realism, energy of expression, and extreme care in draw ing, the details and accessories being finished with infinite pains; his color is luminous and warm in tone. His personages are honest and homely, with gestures frankly expressed; even his religious pictures are genre in character. Ills last works show Italian influence. As an en graver he stands preeminent for the skill shown in grouping figures and in expressing aerial perspective. There are two styles in his cop
perplate works; in one the lines are hold and broad, in the other they are fine and delicate.
Among his best paintings are the following: "Healing of the Blind Sian," Saint Petersburg; "Saint Peter :Martyr" (1508) ; "Last Judg ment," Town Nall, Leyden; a "Card Party," Wilton House, England; "Virgin with Saints," Munich Gallery; "Sibyl Prophesying to Augus tus" (water color), Vienna Academy. His best plates include: "Conversion of Saint Paul" (1509); "Ecce Homo" (1510) ; 'Crucifixion" (1517) ; "Magdalen" (1519) ; "Esther and Ahasuerus:" "Return of the Prodigal Son;" 'Abraham Dismissing Hagar." Consult: Rosen berg, in Dohme, Kunst mind Kiinsticr Deutsch lands, vol. i. (Leipzig. 1877) Evrard, Lucas de Leyte et Albert Darcr(Brussels. 1883) ; Volhehr, Lucas, Ferzeichnis seiner unpfcrsficle (Ilam burg• 1888).