HONDECOETER, GILLIS CLAESZ. DE

Antwerp circa 1575–1638 Amsterdam

Gillis Claesz. De Hondecoeter was a Dutch painter who worked in the Flemish style and specialised in landscapes and depictions of birds. Later, de Hondecoeter painted in a more realistic Dutch style. Gillis was the father of Gijsbert d'Hondecoeter and grandfather of Melchior d'Hondecoeter (1636–1695) and Jan Weenix (c. 1641-1719). His daughter Josijntje married Jan Baptist Weenix (1621–1659).Gillis painted hilly, imaginary Flemish landscapes, usually in connection with a biblical scene. It is said that he was influenced by the Flemish painter Roelant Savery (1576–1639), who also lived in Amsterdam. He usually left the figures in his paintings to his colleague David Vinckboons (1576–1632).