(Sir Peter), an excellent painter, born in Westphalia in the year 1617. He was placed as a disciple with Peter Grebber at Haerlem; and in 1641 was induced, by the encouragement Charles I. gave to the fine arts, to come to England. He became state-painter to Charles II., who knighted him; and being as complete a gentleman as a painter, that king took pleasure in conversing with him. He practised portrait-painting, and succeeded so well that he was preferred before all his contemporaries. Hence he became perpetually involved in lawsuits; so that he was thereby prevented from going into Italy to finish the course of his studies, which in his younger days he was very desirous of; however, he made himself amends by getting the best drawings, prints, and paintings, of the most celebrated Italian masters. Among these were the better part of the Arundel Collection, which he had from that family, many whereof were sold after his death at prodigious