RYCKAERT, David the Younger

David Ryckaert the Younger (David Rijckaert III), Flemish painter. He was taught by his father David Ryckaert II (1586–1642). In 1636 he became a master in the Antwerp GuildGLOSSARYAn association of the masters of a particular craft, trade or profession (painters, goldsmiths, surgeons, and so on) set up to protect its members' rights and interests. Such guilds existed in virtually every European city in the 16th century. The guild also monitored standards of work, acted as a court for those who brought their trade into disrepute, and provided assistance to members in need. of St Luke, and in 1652 he was appointed Dean of the Guild. His brother-in-law, Gonzales Coques, was his pupil. Among his patrons was Archduke Leopold William, governor of the Spanish Netherlands.

Ryckaert began his career as a landscape painter but soon specialized in genreGLOSSARYIn a broad sense, the term is used to mean a particular branch or category of art; landscape and portraiture, for example, are genres of painting, and the essay and the short story are genres of literature. scenes under the influence of Adriaen Brouwer and David Teniers the Younger. His work often shows alehouse interiors with peasants or 'professional' men such as an alchemist, quack, cobbler or painter. Other themes are children's games, musical parties and imaginary scenes with witches and ghosts. Many of Ryckaert's works are signed and dated, thus his artistic development from 1637 to 1661 is easy to follow.