Antwerp school 17th century
Gijsbrecht Leytens was a Flemish landscape painter of the Early Baroque period. He was famous for his depiction of winter landscapes, which were considered his speciality and were characterised by a highly individualised style. He is considered one of the least studied Flemish painters of the Antwerp School.
Geisbrecht Leitens became a member of the Guild of Saint Luke in Antwerp in 1611. From that time he was entitled to open his own workshop in the city and train apprentices.
The master carefully observed winter nature and birds and developed an individual manner which distinguished him from the philosophical generalisations of Pieter Bruegel the elder or the cosy details and findings of Lucas van Falkenborgh. Trees in his paintings are usually depicted covered in snow, often oddly shaped. The branches of the denuded trees are replete with representations of various birds. The artist's creative style may have been influenced by paintings from the Dutch Mannerism period.
Marten Rijckaert was a Flemish Baroque painter, famous for his landscapes in the Italian manner.
Marten Rijckaert was a pupil of Tobias Verhacht. He was registered as a master at the Antwerp Guild of St Luke's in 1607. Reikart was a close friend of Antonis van Dyck.
His work is characterised by rocky forest landscapes, often with waterfalls, ruins and architecture. These Italian landscapes are close to the works of Flemish painter Paul Brill, and the panoramic concept of his compositions owes a debt to the works of Jan Brueghel the Elder.
Izaak (Isaac) van Oosten was a Flemish Baroque landscape and cabinet painter active in Antwerp.
His landscapes are simple with open spaces and mostly hilly landscapes typically filled with a pond or road and several clusters of trees. There is an overall sense of gentleness and calm in these compositions. An even, gentle light spreads over the entire painting and the trees are untouched by the wind. A number of his landscapes have a Mediterranean flavour.
Works by van Oosten can be found in the collections of the Uffizi, the Museo del Prado, the Hermitage Museum, the Musée des Beaux-Arts d'Orléans, the Museum of Fine Arts of Rennes, the Toledo Museum of Art and other museums.