Geertgen tot Sint Jans

Born around 1465, possibly in Leiden or Haarlem. A 17th-century print refers to him as 'Gerardus van Leydanus,' though his exact birthplace remains a subject of scholarly debate.¹

He painted a major altarpiece for the Knights of Saint John in Haarlem. Fragments of this masterpiece, such as 'The Lamentation,' are now preserved in the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna.¹

He died around 1495, likely in his late twenties. Despite a short career of about ten years, he produced significant works that laid the foundation for northern Netherlandish painting.¹

Many of his works were destroyed during the Siege of Haarlem in 1573 and the Reformation. Only 12 to 16 surviving works are attributed to him, making them extremely rare in art history.¹