Thomas Willeboirts Bosschaert

Variant namesauktoriserad namnform: Thomas Willeboirts Bosschaert

DatesBiographical dates: 1654 Dead: dead 1654 Born: born 1613 or 1614 Born: born 1613 or 1614

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BiographyBiography: Thomas Willeboirts Bosschaert became a student in Gerard Seghers’ workshop in Antwerp in 1626. It is not impossible that shortly afterwards he was working for Anthony van Dyck, who had a large, well-frequented studio in Antwerp from 1627 to 1632. He travelled for three years in Germany, Italy and Spain. In 1636/1637 he was admitted as a master into Antwerp’s Guild of St. Luke and in 1650 became a deacon in the painter’s guild. He executed numerous religious compositions for churches and abbeys and also for sale in the city. Between 1636 and 1638 he was employed by Rubens on the series of mythological paintings for the Torre de la Parada, the hunting lodge of the Spanish King Filip IV. The numerous commissions he received from the Dutch Stadt - holder in The Hague were also of great importance. Between 1651 and 1654 he painted a number of mythological-allegorical and religious works for Frederick Hendrik of Orange-Nassau and his wife Amalia van Solms. Willeboirts Bosschaert corresponded with Constantin Huygens, the secretary to the Stadtholder between 1641 and 1650. He was also involved in the decoration of Huis ten Bosch, where he painted seventeen scenes from Greek mythology. Willeboirts Bosschaert was the first of the younger generation of painters that continued to work in the spirit of Van Dyck. In Antwerp he instructed several pupils.

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