Tobias Verhaecht

Tobias Verhaecht (1561–1631) was a landscape painter from Antwerp, known for his traditional style influenced by Joachim Patinir and Pieter Bruegel the Elder. Born to artist Cornelis van Haecht, he joined the Antwerp Guild of St Luke as a master in 1590–91 after traveling to Italy, working in Florence and Rome. He married twice, experiencing personal loss with the deaths of his wives and children. Despite teaching Rubens, who focused on history painting, Verhaecht remained dedicated to landscapes, creating fantastical scenes with intricate details. His work closely resembled Bruegel’s style but incorporated newer elements later. He collaborated with other painters on figures in his works. Verhaecht died in Antwerp in 1631.