_Jan A. Ravesteijn_ (Dutch: 1572-1657).
This artist was born at the Hague, where his most important
works are to be found. He was admitted into the Painters'
Guild there in 1598. He was a pupil of Frans Hals, and was
much employed in painting the large groups of portraits--of
archers, magistrates, etc.--which were in vogue at the time.
Ravesteijn's groups are somewhat more formal than those of
Rembrandt, Hals, and Van der Helst, but are full of life and
character. He knew how to give dignity to his sitters, and his
pictures are inferior only to those of the great masters just
mentioned.