Biography
Jacobus learned the art of engraving from his father, Arnold Houbraken (1660–1719). In 1707 he moved to Amsterdam, where for years he helped his father with his magnum opus, his art historical work De Groote Schouburgh der Nederlantsche konstschilders en schilderessen (1718–1721). When his father died he assisted his mother with the last proofs of the manuscript before publishing. With this project he started his portraits of Netherlandish celebrities, that are today in many cases the only likenesses left of these people. He was influenced by studying the works of Cornelis Cort, Jonas Suyderhoef, Gerard Edelinck and the Visschers.
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