Jacob Pynas
Illustration — Saints Paul and Barnabas Worshipped as Gods by the People of Lystra (1628) Jacob Symonsz. Pynas (1592 or 1593 – after 1650) was a Dutch Golden Age painter and draughtsman. He is best known for having briefly taught the painter Rembrandt in 1625.
Also recorded as Jacob Symonsz. Pynas · Jacob Pinas · Jacob Symonsz. Pinas · Jacob Pijnas
Jacob Pynas

Jacob Pynas · Public domain
- Born
- 1592 · Haarlem.
- Died
- 1650 · Haarlem.
- Nationality
- Netherlands
- Occupation
- painter
- Known for
- Sts Paul and Barnabas worshipped as gods by the people of Lystra · The meeting of Jacob and Esau
- Languages
- Dutch
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Documentary summary
Illustration — Saints Paul and Barnabas Worshipped as Gods by the People of Lystra (1628) Jacob Symonsz. Pynas (1592 or 1593 – after 1650) was a Dutch Golden Age painter and draughtsman. He is best known for having briefly taught the painter Rembrandt in 1625.
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Documentary evidence
Documentary basis
Authority files
wikidata · Q221131 · wikipedia · Jacob Pynas
In this article
Biography
Biography
The recorded working language is Dutch. Places of work recorded in the authority are Amsterdam, Rome and The Hague. Works named in the authority record are Sts Paul and Barnabas worshipped as gods by the people of Lystra and The meeting of Jacob and Esau. Work by Jacob Pynas is recorded in the collections of Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Minneapolis Institute of Art, Auckland Art Gallery, Nationalmuseum and Städel Museum.
Pynas was born in Amsterdam in the Dutch Republic in 1592 or 1593. He was one of nine children born to Symon Jansz. Brouwer, a wealthy Catholic merchant from Alkmaar, and Oude Neel Jacobsdr van Harencarspel. Symon Brouwer adopted the name Pynas (pinas, 'pinnance') in 1594 after purchasing a property in the center of Amsterdam called 'At the Sign of the Pinnance'. According to Arnold Houbraken, a contemporary engraver and biographer, Rembrandt studied with Pynas for a few months in 1625 following his apprenticeship with the painter Pieter Lastman before opening his own studio in Leiden. According to the RKD he was the brother of Jan Pynas who travelled to Italy. Their sister Meynsge married the artist Jan Tengnagel in 1611. Though Jacob is known for scenes of Italy, these paintings could have been based on sketches brought back by his brother Jan and it is not certain that Jacob travelled to Italy. Pynas became a citizen of Delft in 1631 and joined the St. Luke's Guild the following year. He remained there until 1639 when he returned to Amsterdam. He became the teacher of Bartholomeus Breenberg. The Pynas brothers were grouped within Dutch artists called the Pre-Rembrandtists. Their work is close in style to the painter Adam Elsheimer, and there has been a history of mis-attribution between the three, where the Pynas brothers are known to have signed their works "J. Pynas." Pynas died sometime after 1650 in Amsterdam.
Selected works
Selected works
• 1618 – Mercury and Herse, Oil on Copper, (Uffizi Gallery, Florence) • 1618 – Landscape with Mercury and Battus, Oil on Canvas, (Wiener collection, New York) • 1628 – Mountain Landscape with Narcissus, Oil on Wood, (National Gallery, London) • 17th century – Paul and Barnabas at Lystra, Oil on Wood, (Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City) • 17th century – Sacrifice of Isaac, Pen, ink and watercolour on paper, (Courtauld Institute of Art, London) • 17th century – Sacrifice of Gideon, Watercolour and chalk on paper, (Courtauld Institute of Art, London) • 17th century – Christ and the lawyer, Chalk on paper, (Courtauld Institute of Art, London) • 17th century – Apollo and Daphne, Pen and Ink on paper, (Courtauld Institute of Art, London) • 17th century – The Good Samaritan, Oil on Copper, (Louvre, Paris) du Musée Jeanne d'Aboville de La Fère, dans l'Aisne. • 17th century – The Flight into Egypt, Oil, (Louvre, Paris) • 17th century – The Canaanite woman kissing the bottom of Jesus's robe, drawing, (Louvre, Paris) • 17th century – Landscape with Juno, Minerva, Venus, Paris and Cupid, Ink drawing, (Louvre, Paris)
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
Explore 1592–1650
The full dated record · 9 entries
1592
Jacob Pynas was born in 1592 at Haarlem.
1612
Moses and Aaron meeting at mount Horeb (Exodus 4:2-28) is dated 1612.
1618
A rocky, southern landscape, with Abraham receiving the three angels (Genesis 18:2-6) is dated 1618.
1624
Abraham kneels before the angels (Genesis 18:2) is dated 1624.
1628
The Shunammite woman entreats the prophet Elisha to come with her to raise her son from the dead. Elisha sends Gehazi with her (2 Kings 4:28-31) is dated 1628.
1628
Wooded landscape with Joseph being thrown into the well by his brothers (Genesis 37:23-24) is dated 1628.
1632
The Madonna with SS. Catherine of Siena, Carolus Borromeus, Clara, Appolonia and Bruno; in the lower left a relief with the Sacrifice of Isaac is dated 1632.
1650
Jacob Pynas died in 1650 at Haarlem.
1650
Naomi and Ruth is dated 1650.
Paintings
Paintings
• Illustration — Paul and Barnabas at Lystra (1620s) • Illustration — Jupiter and Io
Drawings
Drawings
• Illustration — A Round Tower and Buildings (1616) • Illustration — Heads of Orientals • Illustration — alt=

David en Abigaïl (?) - Jacob Pynas - Musea Brugge
Jacob Pynas
Context
Primary material
Context
The circumstances in which Jacob Pynas stands. The Shunammite woman entreats the prophet Elisha to come with her to raise her son from the dead. Pynas; Jacob Pinas; Jacob Symonsz. Pinas; Jacob Pijnas; Jacob Symonsz. Pijnas; Jaques Pinas.
Documents and archives
Primary material
Documents and archives
scholarly publication
- Tekeningen van de gebroeders Jan en Jacob Pynas, The Rijksmuseum Bulletin, 1996
Scholarly · Crossref registry · 1996
- Tekeningen van de gebroeders Jan en Jacob Pynas, The Rijksmuseum Bulletin, 1997
Scholarly · Crossref registry · 1997
reference work
- “Jacob Pynas”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q221131: Jacob Pynas
General reference · Wikidata
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
scholarly publication
Institutional witnessscholarly publication
Institutional witnessreference work
Secondary witnessauthority record
General reference
Further particulars
Held on the record
Further particulars
Open the remaining particulars
The authorities additionally record the headings Jacob Symonsz. His recorded language was Dutch. Work and production. Works recorded as notable number 2: Sts Paul and Barnabas worshipped as gods by the people of Lystra and The meeting of Jacob and Esau.
Identity and origins
Pynas, Jacob Pinas, Jacob Symonsz
Pinas, Jacob Pijnas and Jacob Symonsz
Recognition and collections
Work by Jacob Pynas is
Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen, Minneapolis Institute of Art, Auckland Art Gallery and Nationalmuseum
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 17 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Paintings
19,183 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
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