Born in Leiden, in January 1629, son of the painter Jacques Metsu, under whom he probably first studied. He also studied with Dou. In 1648 he was a founder member of the guild in Leiden; he left c.1650 for a time, but was resident again in 1652 and 1654. By 1657 he had settled in Amsterdam where he lived on the Prinsengracht and where he was buried on October 24, 1667. In Leiden he had painted some history subjects, but he came to specialise in genre scenes reflecting the influences of Maes and ted Borch and latterly of the Delft School. His technique evolved from the quite broadly painted Leiden works to the meticulous fijnschilder manner of his later Amsterdam years. He occasionally painted portraits and still lifes. One of his best-known works, The Sick Child (Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam), is often compared with Vermeer. His work is rarely dated, so his development and relationships with other artists are difficult to trace.
[Mauritshuis, The Hague - Oil on panel, 57.8 x 43.5 cm]