or Biskop, (John de), an excellent artist, born at the Hague in 1646. He is spoken of with great commendation as a painter, and his drawings from the great masters are held in the highest estimation by the curious. In these he has succeeded so happily, as to preserve with the greatest exactness the style of the painter whose pictures he copied. But as an engraver he is most generally known; and his works are numerous. They are chiefly etchings, harmonized with the graver; and though slight, yet free, spirited, and pleasing. He gives a richness to the colour, and a roundness to the figures, far beyond what is usually done with the point, so little assisted by the graver. His figures in general are well drawn; but in a mannered, rather than a correct, style. The extremities indeed are not always well marked, or his heads equally expressive or beautiful. It is said of him, that he owed his excellency to his own genius alone, having never studied under any master by whose instruction he might have been benefited. He worked chiefly at Amsterdam, where he died in 1686, aged 40 years.

(Cornelius), portrait and history painter, was born at Antwerp in 1630, and was the disciple of Ferdinand Bol. His pencil, his tint of colouring, his style and manner, had a strong resemblance of his master; and by many competent judges he is esteemed not inferior to him in historical subjects as well as in portrait, having been always assiduous to study after nature. A painting by this master, consisting of a few figures by candlelight, was so much admired by Louis XIV. that he purchased it at an high price, and it is placed placed in the royal collection; and the King of Denmark admitted his works among those of the best masters. However, notwithstanding the encomiums bestowed on this master by the Flemish writers, an impartial judge would perhaps think his compositions but heavy and without expression, and his works in general not worthy of all that commendation which is lavished upon them. He died in 1674.

(Abraham), son of Cornelius Bishop, was instructed by his father to design historical subjects and portraits; but preferred the painting of fowl, particularly those of the domestic kind, to any other subjects which were recommended to him. He designed every object after nature, and usually painted in a large size, such as ornamental furniture for grand halls; and every species of fowl was so exactly like nature in its attitude, character, and plumage, that his works were beheld with universal approbation.