or BAKKER, JAQUES, a painter of history, was born at Antwerp in 1530; and learned the principles of painting from his father, who was an artist very knowing in his profession, though his works were in no great estimation. After the death of his father, he lived in the house of Jacopo Palermo, a dealer in pictures, who avariciously took care to keep him incessantly employed, and sent his paintings to Paris to be disposed of, where they happened to be exceedingly admired. The judicious were very eager to purchase them; and though the tranactor sold them at a great price, yet the poor artist was not proportionally rewarded, but continued in the same obscure and deprest condition. His merit, indeed, was universally allowed; but his name, and the narrowness of his circumstances, were as universally unknown. He had a clean light manner of penciling, and a tint of colour that was extremely agreeable.—He died in 1560.

or BAKKER, Jacob, painter of portrait and history, was born at Harlingen in 1629, but spent the greatest part of his life at Amsterdam; and by all the writers on this subject, he is mentioned as an extraordinary painter, particularly of portraits, which he executed with strength, spirit, and a graceful resemblance. He was remarkable for an uncommon readiness of hand and freedom of pencil; and his incredible expedition in his manner of painting, appeared even in one portrait of a lady from Haerlem, that he painted at half length, which was begun and finished in one day, though he adorned the figure with rich drapery and several ornamental jewels. He also painted historical subjects with good success; and in that style there is a fine picture of Cimon and Iphigenia, which is accounted by the connoisseurs an excellent performance. In designing academy figures his expression was so just, and his outlines so correct, that he obtained the prize from all his competitors; and his works are still bought up at very high prices in the Low Countries. In the collection of the Elector Palatine there is an excellent head of Brouwer, painted by this master; and in the Carmelites church at Antwerp is preserved a capital picture of the Last Judgement, which is well designed and well coloured. He died in 1651.