JANSSENS (Victor Honorius), history-painter, was born at Brussels in 1664, and was a disciple of one Volders, under whose direction he continued for seven years; in which time he gave many proofs of a genius far superior to those who were instructed in the same school. He afterwards went to Rome, where he attended particularly to the works of Raphael; he designed after the antiques, and sketched the beautiful scenes around that city; and in a short time his paintings rose in esteem, and the principal nobility of Rome were desirous to employ him. He associated with Tempesta, the celebrated landscape painter, for several years, and painted the figures in the works of that great master as long as they resided together.
Janſens composed historical subjects, both in a small and a large size; but he found the demand for his small pictures so considerable, that he was induced to paint most frequently in that size. During 11 years he continued at Rome, which barely sufficed for his finishing those pictures for which he was engaged; nor could he have been even then at his liberty, had he not limited himself to a number, and determined not to undertake more. — Returning to Brussels, his performances were as much admired there as they had before been in Italy; but having married, and gradually become the father of 11 children, he was compelled to change his manner of painting in small, and to undertake only those of the large kind, as being more lucrative, more expeditious, and also more agreeable to his genius and inclination. He adorned most of the churches and palaces of his own country with his compositions. — The invention of this artist was fruitful; he designed correctly, his colouring is natural and pleasing, his pencil free, and the airs of his heads have beauty and elegance. As to the difference between his large and small paintings, it is observed, that in correctness and taste they had an equal degree of merit; but the colouring of the former appears more raw and cold than the colouring of the latter; and it is agreed, that for small historical pictures, he was preferable to all the painters of his time.