a Dutch Renaissance painter. His exact birthplace is unknown, but it was somewhere near Amsterdam. Born into a family of painters, he was first trained by his father, Jacob Cornelisz van Oostsanen. Jacobsz was deeply influenced by the Mannerist style of fellow Amsterdam painter Jan van Scorel. His painting, The Crossbowmen (1529), was regarded as his most important piece, and was the first militia portrait in Dutch history. He married Marritgen Gerritsdr. in 1550, and they had two children, Maria Dircksdr. and Jacob Dircksz. Jacob later became a painter as well. ?? painted two earlier group portraits of civic guards, which hang in the State Hermitage in Saint-Petersburg.
