BACKHUYSEN, LUDOLF, an eminent painter of the Dutch school, born at Embden in Hanover in 1631; died in 1709. He was brought up as a merchant at Amsterdam, but early discovered a genius for painting. Such was his zeal for the art, that he frequently exposed himself on the sea in an open boat, in order to study the effects of tempests on that element. His sea-pieces are greatly esteemed.