Jacques de Gheyn II, (c. 1565 - 1629),

• Was a Dutch painter and engraver.
• De Gheyn was born in Antwerp.
• He received his first training from his father, Jacob de Gheyn I, a glass painter, engraver, and draftsman.
• In 1585, he moved to Haarlem, where he studied under Hendrik Goltzius for the next five years.
• He moved again, to Leiden, in the middle of the 1590s.
• His his first commission was for an engraving of the Siege of Geertruidenberg from Maurice of Nassau, Prince of Orange.
• As a publicity stunt, the siege and its subsequent engraving were successful in propagating an image of Prince Maurits as an able general.
• Around 1600, de Gheyn abandoned engraving, and focused on painting and etching.
• Moving to The Hague in 1605, he was employed often by Dutch royalty.
• De Gheyn painted some of the earliest female nudes, vanitas, and floral still lifes in Dutch art.
• He is credited with creating over 1,500 drawings, including landscapes and natural history illustrations.
• He produced 117 engravings for the military manual The Exercise of Armes while living in Amsterdam.
• De Gheyn married Eva Stalpaert van der Wiele of Mechelen in 1595.
• His son, Jacob de Gheyn III, was born in 1596, and grew to become an engraver in his own right, as well as the subject of a portrait by Rembrandt.
• De Gheyn died in The Hague.