Gysbrecht Leytens

1586 – 1656

Flemish painter and draftsman. His work was formerly attributed to an anonymous painter, the Master of Winter Landscapes. We now know that the painter, identified thanks to a painting bearing his monogram and kept in a private Dutch collection, was baptised in Antwerp on 4th April 1586. He began his apprenticeship with Jacob Vrolijck, before becoming a master in Antwerp in 1611. Married to Maria van Omel, he was a member of the Olijftak between 1615 and 1625, and a captain in Antwerp's Civic Guard between 1624 and 1628; all signs of a comfortable social position. Known for his collaborations with Frans Francken II and Sebastian Vrancx, his pupils included the young Roccotailliato who came from southern Europe to learn the art of Flemish landscape painting. His entire oeuvre follows the trend of 16th and 17th century Flemish and Dutch landscape painting, which brought fame to such masters as Pieter Brueghel the Elder, Hendrick Avercamp, Gillis Van Coninxloo, Joost de Momper and Denijs Van Alsloot. It was Gysbrecht Leytens's resolutely personal style that brought him attention.

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