FRANZ

See also:

• FRANZ SNYDERS (1579-1657)

SNYDERS (1579-1657)  , Flemish painter of animals and still life, was born and died at Antwerp . In 1593 he was studying under Pieter Breughel the younger, and afterwards received instruction from Hendrick van Balen, the first master of Van Dyck . He devoted himself to painting flowers, fruit and subjects of still life, but afterwards turned to animal-painting, and executed with the greatest skill and spirit hunting pieces and combats of wild animals . His composition is rich and varied, his drawing correct and vigorous, his touch bold and thoroughly expressive of the different textures of furs and skins . His excellence in this department excited the admiration of Rubens, who frequently employed him to paint animals, fruit and still life in his own pictures, and he assisted jordaens in a similar manner . In the lion and boar hunts which bear the name of Snyders the hand of Rubens sometimes appears . He was appointed principal painter to the archduke Albert, governor of the Low Countries, for whom he executed some of his finest works . One of these, a " Stag-Hunt, " was presented to Philip III., who commissioned the artist to paint several subjects of the chase, which are still preserved in Spain .