DIRK THEODORE RAPHAEL, an eminent painter, was born at Gorcum in 1586. He learned the art of painting from Diederic Govertze; and by a studious application to it, he very soon not only equalled, but far surpassed his master. He had an uncommon genius, and studied nature with care, judgment, and affluency. His subjects were landscapes, mostly small, with ruinous buildings, huts of peasants or views of villages on the banks of rivers, with boats and hogs, and generally he represented them by moonlight. His pencil is remarkably tender and soft, his colouring true nature and very transparent, and his expertise in perspective is seen in the proportional distances of his objects, which are excellently contrived, and have a surprising degree of nature and truth. As he left off painting at an age when others are scarcely qualified to commence artifices, few of his works are to be met with, and they bring considerable prices; as they cannot but give pleasure to the eye of every observer. He painted his pictures with a thin body of colour, but they are handled with singular neatness and spirit. He practised in his profession only till he was 18 years of age, and being then recommended as a tutor to the sons of the lord of Nieuport, he undertook the employment, and discharged it with so much credit, that he was appointed secretary to that nobleman. He excelled in drawing with a pen; and the designs which he finished in that manner are exceedingly valued.