Jacob Knyff

1639 – 1681

Painter, part of a Dutch family of painters and draughtsmen of Flemish origin (also spelt Knijff), son of Wouter Knijff. Jacob Knyff is recorded in Paris in 1672, where he had one pupil, Johannes Glauber. The same year he moved to England, one of the Dutch artists who were encouraged to come by Charles II's proclamation promising the work in this country. He remained in England until his death. Jacob specialized in marine scenes and copied the popular paintings of Willem van de Velde the Younger. He also painted foreign harbours with warships, as well as views of British castles and country houses. For the latter, he seems to have introduced the bird's-eye view, a format later made popular by his brother Leonard.

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