Quick Facts
Biography
Lucas Achtschellinck (alternative spellings of last name: Achtschellincks, Achtschellinckx, Achtschellincx, Aghtschellinx) (baptized 16 January 1626 – buried 12 May 1699), was a Flemish landscape painter.
Life
He was born in Brussels and was possibly the grandson of the landscape painter Lukas Achtschelling. He was registered in the Brussels Guild of Saint Luke on 26 October 1639 as a pupil of a Pieter van der Borcht. The 17th century Flemish biographer Cornelis de Bie mentioned that Lucas Achtschellinck also studied with the Brussels landscapist Lodewijk de Vadder but this is not confirmed by Guild records. Achtschellinck likely travelled abroad after completing his apprenticeship since he only became a master in the Brussels guild in 1657. On 13 March 1674 he married Anna Parys. In 1687 he was the deacon of the Brussels guild. He died in Brussels.
He had many pupils including Theobald Michau.
Work
No signed or documented works of Achtschellinck are known, although there is a monogrammed work at the Fondation Custodia. There are a number of landscapes with a clear stylistic relationship that are attributed to him. Characteristic features of his style are the broad brush stroke, especially in the depiction of roads, verges and trees. Similarly, the subtle silvery gradation of light and shade on tree trunks, and especially birches, is a recurring characteristic in the style of landscapes attributed to Achtschellinck. Achtschellinck was a follower of Rubens' style of landscape painting and was also influenced by Jacques d'Arthois. He painted large wooded sceneries for churches and cloisters, which were then garnished by others with biblical characters and events. Achtschellinck painted the landscapes in many of the works of the Antwerp painter Gaspar de Crayer (1582–1669).
The leading Brussels landscape artists of his time were, besides Lucas Achtschellinck, his presumed second teacher Lodewijk de Vadder (1605–1655) and Jacques d'Arthois (1603–1686). They are usually referred to collectively as "The Sonian Forest painters".
Lucas Achtschellinck also produced cartoons for the Brussels tapestry workshops.