Brief Biography-Jan van Huysum, born in Amsterdam, was the most famous of a family of painters. His father, Justus van Huysum 1659-1715, who tutored him, was a painter of flowers, and his three younger brothers were also painters. Jan Davidszoon de Heem influenced his work. Huysum ranked alongside Rachel Ruysch in status as a painter of flowers; however, he sometimes painted portraits and excelled in landscapes. His works sold for princely sums of the time; a flower piece sold for fourteen hundred and fifty guilders, a fruit piece for a thousand and five and a small one for nine hundred guilders. According to Reverend Pilkington, Huysum guarded his talents with such jealousy that he never took on disciples for fear of being equalled or surpassed. He took on one lady named Haverman, but he grew envious of her merit. He grew sad, fretful, and apt to withdraw from society; nevertheless, his reputation never diminished, and rivals did not overshadow his work. He died in Amsterdam in 1749. His pictures hang throughout the principal galleries of Europe.