Antwerp, 1571 – Rotterdam, 1656
Nicolaes de Bruyn was a Flemish engraver who, after training in Antwerp, became active in the Dutch Republic. He was the son of Jan de Bruyn, a sugar manufacturer, and the nephew of engraver Abraham de Bruyn, under whom he trained. His brother-in-law was fellow engraver Jan van Londerseel, who also relocated to Rotterdam.
Although trained by his uncle, Nicolaes de Bruyn did not adopt Abraham’s style. Instead, he developed his own approach, drawing inspiration from the works of Lucas van Leyden. Known for his precise use of the burin, de Bruyn’s engravings were meticulously finished. However, his works were often criticized for lacking taste in form selection and for the absence of effective chiaroscuro—a limitation shared by many artists of his time.
Despite these critiques, his compositions are numerous and display significant merit. From 1617 onwards, de Bruyn worked in Rotterdam, where he remained until his death in 1656. He signed his works either with his initials, N. de B., or with a distinctive monogram.
