Heemskerk, Maerten Jacobsz van (1498–1574)

Dutch painter. Strongly influenced by Italian art of the early 16th century, he painted portraits and religious subjects such as St Luke Painting the Likeness of the Virgin and Child (Frans Hals Museum, Haarlem). The drawings of classical art that he did in Rome (1532–36) are important documents of the state of Roman monuments at the time.

He was born in Heemskerk, north Holland, and studied in Haarlem with Cornelisz, Willemz, and Jan Scorel. He absorbed Italian influence both indirectly through the imitation of Jan Mabuse and later directly by study of Renaissance artists on his visit to Rome. He was particularly impressed by the art of Michelangelo and by ancient Roman statues. When he returned to the Netherlands, the influence of Michelangelo was apparent in his huge pictures with muscle-bound figures in violent movement, although his later style became gentler and more subtle.

His Self-portrait (1533, Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge) has the Colosseum in Rome as its background. Other works are Crucifixion (Ghent), Judgement of Momus (Berlin), and Triumph of Silenus (Vienna).