Jacob Backer was a celebrated Amsterdam portrait artist who enjoyed much acclaim among his contemporaries for his masterly painting technique. As a history painter Backer played a pioneering role: he was the leading trailblazer of Amsterdam classicism. With his spectacular history pieces with themes from mythology and pastoral poetry, he was far ahead of his time. This richly illustrated book features the most recent scholarly insights into his work. It includes a biography followed by an overview of his development as a painter and an essay on Backer as a talented draughtsman. There is also an oeuvre catalogue of all his paintings.