KERSEBOOM, Friedrich - b. 1632 Solingen, d. 1693 London

German painter, part of a family of painters. Both Friedrich (Frederick) Kerseboom and his nephew Johann (John) Kerseboom settled in Covent Garden, London, in the 1680s. Friedrich studied in Amsterdam and from 1650 in Paris under Charles Le Brun before proceeding to Rome. He remained there for 14 years, two of which were spent in Nicolas Poussin’s studio.

After having moved to London, he produced history paintings, known now from engravings, in Poussin’s manner. He apparently discovered portrait painting to be more lucrative in England, but relatively few examples of his work are known. His portrait of Theophilus Leigh, signed and dated 1683, is rigidly posed and dryly painted, while its companion, The Hon. Mary Leigh (both ex-Stoneleigh Abbey, Warwicks), is a timid work strongly influenced by Willem Wissing (c. 1656-1687). His clientele were aristocrats of the middle rank, and he seems to have several subjects in the Midland Counties during the 1680s.

Kerseboom also painted on glass.