(John Van), an eminent painter who flourished about the middle of the last century. He was born at Utrecht; and after having studied under several masters, entered the school of Cornelius Poelenburg, whose style of painting he imitated with great success. He painted both history and landscapes; and his pictures, which are very highly finished, are held in great estimation. He amused himself with the point; and some landscapes from Poelenburg, together with other subjects from his own compositions, are attributed to him.

BRONTIÆ, or Thunder-stones, in natural history. See Belemnites.