Born in Ghent in 1579 or 1580, Jacob Martens was the son of Jan Martens the Elder (-1618) and Jacomyntge Vermeulen or Vermeden (-1634). The couple had three more sons, Abigail, Jan Martens I and Azarias and one daughter Catelijn, who married Esaias van de Velde (1587-1630). Jacob married Susanna van de Velde (1582-1614), sister of Esaias van de Velde in Amsterdam on 8 April 1608. One year later, their son Jan Martszen de Jonge (1609/10-1647) (who also became a painter) was born in Haarlem where the family had been settled. After Susanna had passed away in 1614, Jacob married to Mayken van Robeys/Roebais on 25 June 1617 with whom he had a daughter Jacomijntje (1619-1700).
Jacob was registered in the Guild of Saint Luke in 1610 and remained in Haarlem until 1625 when he is recorded in Amsterdam. In 1626 he moved to The Hague while his son remained in Haarlem and probably worked in the studio of his uncle Esaias van de Velde.
Like his son, Jacob Martens is known for his landscapes, which featured military and hunting motifs. Little is known of his activity as a draughtsman. He had an apprenticeship to Karel van Mander (1548-1606).
Dr. Peter Schatborn has kindly suggested that this drawing appears close to the sheet by this artist sold in the Van Regteren Altena sale in 2014.[1]
[1] Attributed to Jacob Martens, A man holding a rifle (recto); A further study of the same (verso).
Black and white chalk on blue paper, 209 x 116 mm.
Christie's, Amsterdam, The I.Q. van Regteren Altena collection, part II : Dutch and Flemish drawings from 1500 to 1900, 10 December 2014, lot: 189 recto.
