Jan Baptist Bosschaert
Flemish, 1667 - 1746
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Jan Baptist Bosschaert or Jan Baptist Bosschaert the Younger was a Flemish still life painter who is principally known for his decorative still lifes with flowers. He collaborated with figure artists on compositions which combined allegorical or mythological scenes with a still life element. He was active in Antwerp.
Jan Baptist Bosschaert was born in Antwerp as the son of the painter-baker Jan Baptist and his second wife Joanna de Bie, the sister of the painter Erasmus de Bie. His father died young leaving Jan Baptist in a poor home and without education. He was reportedly still illiterate at the age of 17.
As the young Jan Baptist showed talent for art his brothers who were his guardians placed him in the care of the flower painter Jan Baptist de Crépu. He studied with de Crépu starting from the year 1685. He lived also in de Crépu's house. Another pupil of de Crépu who studied at the same time as Bosschaert was the flower painter Simon Hardimé. Jan Baptist de Crépu fled his creditors in 1688 and died in Brussels the next year.
Bosschaert became in the Guild year 1692–1693 a master of the Guild of Saint Luke of Antwerp. Bosschaert was active in Antwerp as a flower painter and received many commissions from the local bourgeoisie. Nothing is known about his personal life.
He died in Antwerp in 1746.