17^th Century Flemish

Painter of history and religious works, genre scenes, figures, landscapes and portraits; printmaker.

Also known as Teniers the Younger, this printmaker and painter of genre scenes was the son of the painter David Teniers the Elder (1582-1649). He is perhaps best known for his genre scenes with peasants and for his depictions of monkeys performing human tasks. In 1647 he was elected keeper of the collection of Archduke Leopoldo Wilhelm of Habsburg, the governor of the Netherlands. During that period he created several paintings depicting the archduke showing his gallery of paintings to visitors, though in an imaginary location. A good example of that body of work is a painting belonging to the Museo del Prado, sent by the archduke to King Philip IV. He also compiled for the archduke a descriptive catalogue of the most significant works in his collection. The Theatrum Pictorium was the first of its kind for its inclusion of descriptions and printed reproductions of the paintings.