Artists
Willem van Aelst
- Country:
- Netherlands
- Birth year:
- 1625
- Death year:
- 1683
Willem van Aelst came from a family of lawyers. He learned to paint at an early age from his uncle, Evert van Aelst, and was accepted to painter's guild in Delft in 1643. In 1645 he traveled to France, and later to Italy, where in 1649 he worked at the grand ducal court in Florence. It was there that he developed his characteristically elegant style under the influence of the inspect painter Otto Marseus van Schrieck. In 1657 he settled in Amsterdam and concentrated on painting hunting still life. Willem van Aelst was one of the most outstanding and influential still life painters of his time, and had a great influence in the development of this style. His works include; Still life with flowers,1663, Mauritshuis, The Hague, Hunting trophies, 1668, Kunsthalle, Karlruhe, still life with game, 1671, Maurithuis, The Hague.