Heintz, Joseph (1564-1609)

Swiss painter and draughtsman. He trained in Basle, Switzerland, and finished his artistic education in Italy - in Rome about 1584-87 and Venice 1587-91. In 1591 Heintz was called to the court of the Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II where he acted as artist and artistic adviser, being sent abroad on several missions. His works include both religious and erotic paintings, for example Venus and Adonis, as well as royal portraits.