Jan Fontein (22 May 1927 – 19 May 2017) was a Dutch art historian and former museum director.
In 1947 Fontein started working as assistant curator at the Museum of Asiatic Art in Amsterdam.
[1] In 1966 Fontein obtained his PhD under Theodoor Paul Galestin at Leiden University, with a dissertation titled: The Pilgrimage of Sudhana, A Study of Gandavyþha illustrations in China, Japan, and Java.
From 1990 to 1996 Fontein was Bishop White Visiting Scholar at the Royal Ontario Museum.
[1] Fontein was elected a correspondent of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1967.