Jan Asselijn

January Asselijn (* 1610 in Dieppe, France, † September 28, 1652 in Amsterdam) called, because of his overgrown hand Krabbetje ( Small crab ) was a Dutch landscape and history painter of French origin, who understood also to battles and animal painting.

1621 moved Asselijn family of Dieppe in France to Amsterdam in the Netherlands. Asselijn was a student of Esaias van de Velde and held in 1635 about seven years in Rome, where he belonged to the Schilderbent, a Dutch painter Pieter van Laer Association and its model in the treatment of the figures and the landscape Claude Lorrain was. Also in Florence Asselijn is demonstrated, where he the young Jacques Courtois first instructed before 1640 at the Battle painting and exercised significant influence on this.

Together with Jan Both and Jan Baptist Weenix he is the most important representatives of the so-called Dutch Italian drivers ( "Dutch Italianates " or " Nederlandse Italianised " ) counted. His painting The Threatened Swan is one of his most famous works and was often seen as a symbol of national valor in the face of the English- Dutch naval wars. This is also the text which later owner affix them to the painting.

1652 joined Asselijn at the Amsterdam citizenship, but died the same year. His brother was Thomas Asselijn.