Like his brother from Willem van Deventer, Jan Frederik van Deventer received his first painting lessons from his uncle H. van de Sande Bakhuysen. He then attended the academy in The Hague from 1939 to 1840. Like his teacher, Van Deventer specialized in landscape; he painted river landscapes, beach and forest views, usually decorated with figures and cattle. From 1841 he exhibited annually at the exhibitions of Living Masters in Amsterdam and The Hague, where he usually received much praise.