BERCHEM, or Berghem, Nicholas, an eminent painter, born at Haarlem in 1624. He received instruction from his father, and from the painters Van Goyen, Wils, and Weeninx. His pictures, of which he produced an immense number, were in great demand, as were also his etchings and drawings. His landscapes are highly esteemed; and many of them have been finely engraved by John Visscher, an eminent artist in his own line. The distinguishing characteristics of Berchem’s works are—breadth and just distribution of lights, grandeur of the masses of shadow, truth and simplicity of the figures, just gradation of distances, brilliancy and transparency of colouring, correctness of design, and elegance of composition. He died in 1683.