Early Life and Formation in Haarlem Josua de Grave, born in Amsterdam in 1643, emerged during the twilight years of the Dutch Golden Age—a period renowned for its artistic flourishing and burgeoning mercantile spirit. Though his origins lay within a family connected to commerce, young Josua found himself drawn towards the visual arts, a path that would lead him away from trade routes and into the delicate world of draughtsmanship. By 1648, the de Grave family had relocated to Haarlem, a city steeped in artistic tradition, where Josua’s formal training began. He entered the Guild of St Luke i…