Nicolaas Verkolje

1673 Delft – 1746 Amsterdam

The painter and printmaker, Nicolaas Verkolje, was apprenticed to his father, Jan Verkolje (1650–1693). His paintings were greatly influenced by fine painters such as Gabriel Metsu, Gerard ter Borch and Adriaen van der Werff. From 1700 Verkolje lived and worked in Amsterdam, where he achieved prominence as a por­traitist and painter of genre and historical scenes. His mezzotints were held in great esteem during his lifetime. He learned the art from his father, Jan the Elder (1650–1693), whom he later surpassed in terms of technical virtuosity and tonal sophistication.