Arnold Houbraken (1660 – 1719)
• Was a Dutch painter and writer from Dordrecht.
• Houbraken was sent first to learn threadtwisting from Johannes de Haan, who introduced him to engraving.
• After two years he then studied art with Willem van Drielenburch.
• He then studied 9 months with Jacobus Leveck and finally, four years with Samuel van Hoogstraten.
• In 1685 he married Sara Sasbout, and around 1709 he moved from Dordrecht to Amsterdam.
• Arnold Houbraken painted mythological and religious paintings, portraits and landscapes.
• He is best known for the art historical work The Great Theatre of Dutch Painters (1718–1721).
• When he died his son Jacobus Houbraken assisted his mother with the last proofs of the manuscript before publishing.
• His first attempt at an instructive manual for artists was his Emblem book, Inhoud van 't Sieraad der Afbeelding, which was meant as a guide of possible painting themes.
• His registered pupils were Matthijs Balen, Johan Graham, and his son Jacob.
• Houbraken had ten children.
• His daughter Antonina Houbraken also became an engraver for an Amsterdam publisher.
