Jan Mesker was a student of, among others, Paul Tetar van Elven and was also educated at the 'Teeken-Academie' in The Hague. The artist became known as a history painter and portraitist, but there are also genre scenes by him. Mesker was also a graphic artist and lithographer, among others for the Kunstkronijk. The artist taught his brother Theo Mesker (1853-1849).