CAMPHUYSSEN, DIRK THEODORE RAPHAEL, an
eminent painter, was born at Gorcum in 1586. He
learned the art of painting from Diederick Govertze;
and by a studious application to it, he very soon not
only equalled, but far surpassed his master. He had
an uncommon genius, and studied nature with care,
judgment, and assiduity. His subjects were landscapes,
mostly small, with ruinous buildings, huts of peasants
or views of villages on the banks of rivers, with boats
and hoys, and generally he represented them by moon-
light. His pencil is remarkably tender and soft, his
colouring true nature and very transparent, and his ex-
pertness in perspective is seen in the proportional dis-
tances of his objects, which are excellently contrived,
and have a surprising degree of nature and truth. As
he left off painting at an age when others are scarcely
qualified to commence artists, few of his works are to
be met with, and they bring considerable prices; as
they cannot but give pleasure to the eye of every ob-
server. He painted his pictures with a thin body of
colour, but they are handled with singular neatness
and spirit. He practised in his profession only till he
was 18 years of age, and being then recommended as
a tutor to the sons of the lord of Nieuport, he under-
took the employment, and discharged it with so much
credit, that he was appointed secretary to that noble-
man. He excelled in drawing with a pen; and the
designs which he finished in that manner are exceed-
ingly valued.