Pieter Lastman Artwork valuations, appraisals and auction estimates

Pietersz Pieter Lastman was born in Amsterdam in 1583. He was a Dutch painter, engraver and miniaturist, and is considered one of the main representatives of the Pre-Rembrandtists. Read the full biography

Pietersz Pieter Lastman was born in Amsterdam in 1583. He was a Dutch painter, engraver and miniaturist, and is considered one of the main representatives of the Pre-Rembrandtists. He studied art with the mannerist artist Gerrit Sweelinck, specializing in religious and mythological painting. In 1604 he moved to Italy where he had the opportunity to see the works of Caravaggio and Adam Elsheimer, which influenced him profoundly. He became a follower of Elsheimer and developed a more expressive and dramatic style, with particular attention to the psychology of characters and their individuality. His works stand out for their ability to represent small figures with great chromatic vibrancy and exotic costumes. He returned to Amsterdam in 1607 and lived there for the rest of his life. Among his most notable pupils were Jan Lievens, who studied him in 1617, and Rembrandt, who spent six months with Lastman in 1624 for his artistic training. Due to health problems, he moved to live with his brother in 1632 and died in Amsterdam on 4 April 1633.