17^th Century Dutch

Painter of figures and portraits.

Also known as Nicolaes Eliasz. Pickenoy, he was the son of a Flemish mason from Antwerp and specialised in both individual and group portraits, although he also painted some biblical scenes. He was a disciple of Cornelis van der Voort ―one of the most important portraitists in Amsterdam and also a native of Antwerp― and was the master of Bartholomeus van der Helst. For some years he collaborated with Rembrandt.

With his careful and sober depictions, very much in line with the aesthetics of the Dutch painting from the first half of the 17^th century, he was one of the favourite portrait painters of the well-off classes.