Antoon Claeissens

Who is Antoon Claeissens?

Anthuenis, or Antoon Claeissens, Claessens, or Claeissins was the son of Pieter Claes the elder and painted historical and allegorical subjects, and portraits.

He was a native of Bruges and became a pupil of Pieter Pourbus. He entered the Bruges Guild of Saint Luke in 1575, and became its dean in 1586, 1590, and 1601. His works, several of which are in the Hôtel-de-Ville and churches of Bruges, are distinguished by their fine colouring and finish. In the H6tel-de-Ville is a 'Grand Banquet' with many portraits of magistrates of the time, dated 1574. He died in 1613.

His son, Pieter Anthonie, was dean of the Guild of St. Luke at Bruges in 1607, and died in 1608.

Bruges City hall

The Judgment of Solomon was probably painted for the City Hall's Vierschaar

Now in the Groeningemuseum, this painting of Mars Vanquishing Ignorance was also probably made for the Town Hall

Banquet of the council members of the Town Hall, painted for the Town Hall in 1574