A Life of High Adventure and Sudden Tragedy Jan Linsen lived a life that seemed to mirror the dramatic themes he chose to paint. Born in Hoorn around 1602 or 1603, this Dutch painter moved through Europe with a restless energy, traveling through France and eventually finding his way to Italy. In Rome, between 1624 and 1626, he became part of the Bentvueghels, an association of Dutch and Flemish artists. It was within this circle that he adopted the nickname Hermafrodito, a name that reflected the spirited, often eccentric culture of the expatriate artist community in the Eternal City. His tra…