François Duchatel or du Chastel was a Flemish painter who worked in Brussels and possibly also in Paris. He is known for his portraits, including of children and groups and genre paintings, including of peasant subjects, tavern interiors and guardroom scenes. He also painted a few large views of historical events and religious scenes.

Little is known about his life, He was likely born in Brussels between 1616 and 1625. Some sources report that he initially served in the cavalry but let this profession after he witnessed the death of his best friend at his side during a battle. It is only then at the age of 27 that he chose the career of an artist. It was traditionally believed that he was a pupil of David Teniers the Younger likely because his paintings of village feasts show some ressamblance with works of that master. There are no records that corroborate such an apprenticeship. He is also mentioned as a pupil of the Antwerp painter Gaspar de Crayer, a native of Antwerp who had moved to Brussels in the early 17th century where he had become a member of the local Guild of Saint Luke in 1607. De Crayer was known for his Counter-Reformation altarpieces and portraits.

In 1649 he married Jeanne Louys with whom he had seven children. Their eldest daughter became a portrait painter and miniaturist who had an international career. She married the Dutch painter Eglon van der Neer. In January 1654 Gaspar de Crayer and Duchatel sign a contract with the Averbode Abbey to paint a The confession of faith of St. Norbert and the brothers of his order on the Christmas night of 1120.

Some authors state that Duchatel went to Paris where he worked as assistant to the Flemish battle painter Adam Frans van der Meulen. Van der Meulen was a court painter and working under Charles Lebrun on various royal decoration projects as well on designs for the Gobelins Manufactory, the royal tapestry workshop. A number of Flemish artists had been invited to Paris to assist on these projects. There is no documentary evidence that supports Duchatel's presence in Paris or in the entourage of van der Meulen.

His pupils included John Baptist Medina, who became a successful portrait painter in Scotland, and his daughter Marie Duchatel, a miniature painter.