Maerten van Heemskerck (1498 - 1574) was one of the leading Dutch portrait and religious painters of the 16th century. He studied with both Cornelis Willemsz and Jan Lucasz in Haarlem before commencing his most influential tenure under artist Jan van Scorel, upon van Scorel's return from Rome in 1527.

He learned the Italianate style of painting from van Scorel before making a pilgrimage to Rome himself in 1532. There, he spent three years studying the work of artists such as Michaelangelo and Raphael. He also sketched many of the great Roman antiquities and monuments present in the city of Rome during that time. His surviving sketchbooks are priceless as they provide true depictions of these art and architecture masterpieces in their original forms.

Van Heemskerck made his permanent residence in Haarlem in 1537. From 1553 until 1554 he served as a Dean in the guild of Saint Luke and left his home only once during the remainder of his life when the Spaniards laid siege to Haarlem between 1572 and 1573. This year was spent in Amsterdam.

Maerten van Heemskerck died in 1574. His paintings and sketches can be seen in museums throughout Europe and the United States.