From 1667 Jan Luyken was a pupil of the history painter Martinus Saeghmolen (c. 1620–1669). He taught Jan Luyken painting and possibly also engraving. After Saeghmolen’s death, Luyken’s contemporary, Coenraet Decker (c. 1650–1685), probably gave him etching lessons. Decker was a pupil of the already famous book illustrator, Romeyn de Hooghe (1645–1708). It is feasible that Pieter Sluyter, who did this portrait, belonged to Jan Luyken’s immediate circle of acquaintances. He even completed several prints by Jan Luyken posthumously.