"Head of Gryphon". Charcoal drawing on paper with white highlighting, signed "Snyers" on the lower right corner. Matted, paper measures approx. 5" x 6-3/4". The son of a city messenger for Antwerp, he was an apprentice of Sebastiaen Vrancx, although he is not listed as such in the records of the Antwerp Guild of St. Luke. He became a master of the Guild in 1612-13. The paintings of his early Antwerp period adopt the style and subject matter of his master: scenes of skirmishes and robberies on country roads, represented as lively and colorful events. Snayers married a niece of the painter Cornelis Schut on September 25, 1618 and continued to live in Antwerp until the second half of the 1620's. Until 1625-6 he regularly paid his dues to the Guild. Shortly afterwards he moved to Brussels. On June 16, 1628 he obtained citizenship of Brussels and became a master in the local guild of painters. Although he was never appointed officially as court painter to the Archdukes Albert and Isabella, he worked for the Infanta on several occasions, painting scenes in which she herself participated, such as Isabella's visit to the Siege of Breda (Madrid, Prado).
150/300 Sold $437.00
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