Jan Boeckhorst

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Jan Boeckhorst (c. 1604 – 21 April 1668) was a German-born Flemish Baroque painter who spent most of his career in Antwerp. He produced history paintings, genre scenes and portraits, and his style shows the influence of Rubens, van Dyck and Jordaens. He also designed cartoons for tapestries.

Born in Münster, Boeckhorst joined the Jesuits at 17 but began painting in his early twenties. He moved to Antwerp in the mid-1620s, likely to study with Rubens (though evidence is not firm). He may have trained briefly with Jordaens and worked closely with van Dyck in the 1620s–30s. He became a master in Antwerp’s Guild of Saint Luke around 1633–34 and worked with Rubens on major projects, including the Pompa Introitus for Antwerp’s governor in 1635.

Boeckhorst traveled to Italy in 1635 and again in 1639, spending time in Rome and joining the Bentvueghels, where he may have been nicknamed Doctor Faustus. After returning to Antwerp, he received many religious commissions in Flanders and created portraits, history paintings and lively group scenes. He also produced designs for tapestries, including eight Apollo myths, and prepared drawings used by printers.

Only a few paintings are signed and dated, so some works attributed to him are uncertain. He died in Antwerp on 21 April 1668 and was buried in Saint James Church. His collection, which included many Rubens drawings, was sold shortly after his death.