TILLEMANS, Peter

c.1684 - 1734

Peter Tillemans was born at Antwerp around 1684, son of a diamond-cutter. He studied painting at Antwerp under various masters and he was noted as the brother-in-law of another Flemish painter, Pieter Casteels (1684-1749), it has been assumed that he married before leaving Antwerp. Tillemans was induced to move to London by a picture-dealer called Turner, and in 1711 he studied in Kneller's Academy and worked as a scene painter at the Haymarket, and he spent the remainder of his life in England. He lived at Richmond, Surrey and was a Flemish painter best known for his works on country houses and their owners and on sporting subjects and, together with John Wootton (1682-1764) and James Seymour (1702-1752), founders of the English school of sporting painting. Tillemans was tutor to several artists including Arthur Devis (1712-1787) and Joseph Francis Nollekens (1702-1748). Peter Tillemans died at the house of Dr Cox Macro (1683–1767), at Little Haugh Hall, Norton, Suffolk on 5 December 1734 and buried in the adjoining village of Stowlangtoft two days later. His collection of paintings had been sold at Cock's, London auction house, conducted by Dr Macro, on 19 and 20 April 1733. William, Lord Byron was a pupil as well as a patron.

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Works by This Artist