Bryan's Dictionary of Painters and Engravers/Aartsz, Rijkaert

​Aartsz, Rijkaert. According to Van Mander, this painter, the son of a poor fisherman, was born at Wyck, in North Holland, in 1482. He became a scholar of Jan Mostaert, the elder, a painter at that time in some repute at Haarlem. Under that master he made surprising progress, and not only soon surpassed his instructor, but became one of the ablest artists of his time. His first works on leaving the school of Mostaert, were two pictures painted as folding-doors to an altar-piece in the great church at Haarlem, wherein he represented two subjects from the history of Joseph and his brethren. He afterwards settled at Antwerp, and was received into the Academy there in 1520. He died in that city at the great age of 95. Aartsz’s works are for the most part to be seen in Friesland.