The Quiet Presence of Amiens In the streets of Amiens, the name Mathieu Prieur carried the weight of a steady hand and a practiced eye. Born around 1552, he was the son of Jean Prieur, a painter who likely introduced him to the smell of linseed oil and the texture of prepared wood. By February 23, 1579, he had been received as a master painter, a formal recognition that allowed him to take on commissions and navigate the social circle…