He was born in
Amsterdam, the youngest son of immigrants from
Wallonia. His parents, Jacques Boursse and Anna des Forest, married in 1618 in Amsterdam. Nothing is known about the education of Esaias Boursse, other than that he travelled to
Italy in about 1650 to study the great Renaissance examples. No reminders of those examples are to be found in his work. In the past art historians have tried to place him among
Rembrandt's pupils, but there is no objective evidence to prove this, although the painters were neighbours in the
Sint Antoniebreestraat in Amsterdam (nowadays called
Jodenbreestraat, still housing the
Rembrandt House Museum). Boursse's financial position will not have been good, since in 1661 he sailed with the
Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie, on the ship
Amersfoort. It travelled to
Ceylon (nowadays called Sri Lanka). Boursse drew the inhabitants, landscapes and city views, which have been preserved in an album which can be found in the print room of the
Rijksmuseum Amsterdam. In 1663, the painter was back in Amsterdam. In 1672, Boursse sailed with Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie again. On November 16 he died at sea, on board the ship
Rhenen. Boursse could not earn a living by painting alone and therefore had to look for an alternative source of income, like
Jan Steen (who was also an innkeeper) and
Johannes Vermeer (who was also an art dealer). Boursse seems to have remained unmarried and childless. Financially, Boursse's career was a success. == Work ==