BREDA (John Van), painter of history, landscape, and conversations, was born at Antwerp in 1683, the son of Alexander Van Breda, an artist who was much esteemed for landscapes, views of particular scenes in Italy, fairs, and markets, with a variety of animals and figures. He was instructed by his father; and having the advantage of a good example and a good director, added to his own great application, he continued his studies with his father till he was 18 years of age. Among the variety of capital paintings which were at that time in the possession of John de Wit at Antwerp, Breda fixed upon those of Velvet Brueghel, which he copied with extraordinary success; and he was also employed for
nine years in copying the pictures of several other great masters; which he performed with such incredible exactness as scarcely to leave it in the power of any judicious person to distinguish the originals from the copies. Having at length established his reputation in Holland, he went to London with Rybbrack the sculptor, and there gradually rose into such esteem that he was visited by persons of the highest rank, and particularly patronised by the unfortunate Earl of Derwentwater, who was beheaded for rebellion in 1715. He found so much encouragement in London, that he was employed by the court and the nobility, and could scarce execute the large demands for his performances. After a residence of some years in England, he returned to Antwerp loaded with riches, the honourable testimonies of English liberality, as well as of his own merit; and in the year 1746, when Louis XIV. arrived in that city, he so far honoured this master as to purchase four of his pictures. One represented Christ at the sea of Tiberias; another, Christ performing miracles; and the other two were landscapes, with a number of figures, so exquisitely drawn and finished that it would be difficult to distinguish them from those of Velvet Brueghel. He certainly approached nearer to those great masters whose manner he imitated, namely, Brueghel and Wouwermans, than any other artist of his time. His landscapes are in the style and taste of the former, and his conversations, historical figures, fairs, skirmishes, or battles, are in the manner of the latter. His colouring is good; his touch neat; his skies and distances natural and beautiful; and his taste of design agreeable. He had as much fire in his composition, and perhaps more genius, than Brueghel, in those subjects which he painted in the style of that master; his figures are generally well placed, his grounds skilfully broken; every small figure hath its particular character, and occupies its proper place; and, in short, he is a painter of such a rank, that the value and estimation of his works must always increase. He died in 1750.