1675 Gardens at Jesus College, Oxford

Jesus College, Oxford - an engraving from "Oxonia Illustrata" (1675) by David Loggan.

Oxonia Illustrata was the first illustrated book on Oxford & one of the major works of the 17C . The book was the product of several years of devoted & conscientious effort in which Loggan was assisted by his pupil Robert White. David Loggan (1634-1692) was born in Danzig in 1635 & came to England around 1653. By 1665, he was living in Nuffield near Oxford, & in 1669 was appointed engraver to the University. In 1675, he married & became a naturalised citizen. His Oxonia Illustrata was intended as a companion work to Historia Antiquitates Universitatis Oxoniensis by Anthony Woods, with whom Loggan had become acquainted some years earlier.

English Houses & Gardens by Hendrick Danckerts (1625-1680) or attributed to him

1670s Hendrick Danckerts (c 1625-1689) Royal Gardener John Rose presenting a pineapple to King Charles II. Hendrick Danckerts was a Dutch landscape painter who moved to England, entering the service of Charles II & the Duke of York, in 1658.

Description of Painting of Charles II being presented with a pineapple ... Royal Collection Trust
"Charles II, wearing star of the Garter, stands on a terrace, His left hand on hip. To the left, a man, possibly John Rose, the royal gardener, kneels before him & presents him with what is said to the  first pineapple grown in England.

Pineapples at this date were rare & highly valued items imported from the Americas. In the background is a large, still unidentified, formal garden & house.  Several versions of the composition exist - that at Houghton Hall is attributed to Hendrick Danckerts. The painting may have been painted to commemorate the death of gardener John Rose in 1677. To add credence to this date, here Charles II is depicted without a mustache & it was in 1677, that he shaved it off.

About Form over Substance
This painting depicts Charles II wearing fashionable clothing typical of the 1670s: rather than the ceremonial robes or armor, in which he was usually painted. The knee-length brown coat is of a style said to have been initiated by the monarch himself in October of 1666, replacing the short doublet. Both Samuel Pepys & John Evelyn report the introduction of the new style. With this coat, with large cuffs turned back to reveal the linen shirt beneath, Charles II wears knee-length petticoat breeches trimmed with bunches of black ribbons at the waist & knee. His shoes have fashionably square toes & red heels. At His neck is in Rabat of expensive needlepoint lace, & he probably wears a black hat of beaver fur. 

Hendrick Danckerts (c.1625-1680) was a Dutch landscape painter who moved to England, entering the service of Charles II & the Duke of York, in 1658. Born in The Hague, Danckerts began his career as an engraver & amp; in 1651, he entered that city's Guild of St Luke. From around 1653-7, Danckerts traveled in Italy determined to improve his painting technique. On his return to Holland, he established himself as a landscape painter, before Charles II invited him to England, where he painted landscapes, especially views of harbors & royal residences. He left England in 1679, in response to public hostility towards Roman Catholics after the Popish Plot controversy. Charles commissioned several important pieces from Danckerts; & by 1688, England's Royal Collection owned 29 works by the Dutch painter.

1660 attr Hendrick Danckerts (Dutch artist, from 1625 to 1689) View of Windsor Castle from the River
 Danckerts was a Dutch landscape painter who moved to England, entering the service of Charles II & the Duke of York, in 1658. 

1675 attr Hendrick Danckerts (Dutch artist, from 1625 to 1689) A View Of St James's And The Gardens Overlooking St James's Park From The South West.

1675 Hendrick Danckerts (Dutch artist, 1625-1689) Classical Figures in a Garden

The Manor House, Creswells Attributed to Hendrick Danckerts (1625-1680) 1670

Ham House from the South c 1675 Attributed to Hendrick Danckerts (1625-1680)

Hendrick Danckerts (1625-1680) The Old Palace of Whitehall from Saint James

Hendrick Danckerts (1625-1680) The Old Palace of Whitehall
Hendrick Danckerts (1625-1680) View of the Queen's House and Greenwich Palace from One Tree Hill

1660 attr Hendrick Danckerts (Dutch artist, from 1625 to 1689) View of Windsor Castle from the River

1660 attr Hendrick Danckerts (Dutch artist, from 1625 to 1689) View of Windsor Castle from the River

Hendrick Danckerts (c.1625-1680) was a Dutch landscape painter who moved to England, entering the service of Charles II & amp; the Duke of York, in 1658. Born in The Hague, Danckerts Began His career as an engraver & amp; in 1651, he Entered That city's Guild of St Luke. From around 1653-7, Danckerts Traveled in Italy determined to improve His painting technique. On his return to Holland, he established himself as a landscape painter, before Charles II invited him to England. He painted landscapes, especially views of harbors & amp; royal residences. He left England in 1679, to the two public hostility towards Roman Catholics after the Popish Plot controversy. Charles commissioned several important pieces from Danckerts, & amp; by 1688, The Royal Collection owned 29 works by the Dutch painter.

1670 attr Hendrick Danckerts (Dutch artist, from 1625 to 1689) The Manor House, Creswells

1670 attr Hendrick Danckerts (Dutch artist, from 1625 to 1689) The Manor House, Creswells

Hendrick Danckerts (c.1625-1680) was a Dutch landscape painter who moved to England, entering the service of Charles II & amp; the Duke of York, in 1658. Born in The Hague, Danckerts Began His career as an engraver & amp; in 1651, he Entered That city's Guild of St Luke. From around 1653-7, Danckerts Traveled in Italy determined to improve His painting technique. On his return to Holland, he established himself as a landscape painter, before Charles II invited him to England. He painted landscapes, especially views of harbors & amp; royal residences. He left England in 1679, to the two public hostility towards Roman Catholics after the Popish Plot controversy. Charles commissioned several important pieces from Danckerts, & amp; by 1688, The Royal Collection owned 29 works by the Dutch painter.

1670s Hendrick Danckerts (Dutch artist, 1625-1689) View of the Queen's House and Greenwich Palace from One Tree Hill

1670s Hendrick Danckerts (Dutch artist, 1625-1689) View of the Queen's House and Greenwich Palace from One Tree Hill

Hendrick Danckerts (c.1625-1680) was a Dutch landscape painter who moved to England, entering the service of Charles II & amp; the Duke of York, in 1658. Born in The Hague, Danckerts Began His career as an engraver & amp; in 1651, he Entered That city's Guild of St Luke. From around 1653-7, Danckerts Traveled in Italy determined to improve His painting technique. On his return to Holland, he established himself as a landscape painter, before Charles II invited him to England. He painted landscapes, especially views of harbors & amp; royal residences. He left England in 1679, to the two public hostility towards Roman Catholics after the Popish Plot controversy. Charles commissioned several important pieces from Danckerts, & amp; by 1688, The Royal Collection owned 29 works by the Dutch painter.

1696 Jan Siberechts, (1627‑c.1700) View of a House and its Estate in Belsize, Middlesex

1696 Jan Siberechts, (Flemish-born English artist, 1627‑c.1700)  View of a House and its Estate in Belsize, Middlesex

Jan Siberechts (1627–1703) was born in Antwerp, the son of a sculptor with the same name. After establishing himself as an artist in Flanders, he moved to England during his forties.  Siberechts was one of scores of Dutch & Flemish artists who came to Britain in the 17C. He was baptized in Antwerp in 1627.  He was elected to the Guild of St Luke in 1648. By 1674, he was in England, apparently at the encouragement of George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham, who had seen some of Siberechts's landscapes in Antwerp in 1670. The artist was a Catholic, & one of his daughters became a lace-maker for the Queen. He was best known in England as a painter of topographical views of country houses & more general landscapes.  He seems to have traveled widely in Britain, and was in Wales in 1696. He remained in England until his death.

1675 attr Hendrick Danckerts (Dutch artist, from 1625 to 1689) A View Of St James's And The Gardens Overlooking St James's Park From The South West.

1675 attr Hendrick Danckerts (Dutch artist, from 1625 to 1689) A View Of St James's And The Gardens Overlooking St James's Park From The South West.

1600s Jan Siberechts (1627‑c.1700) & Gilles van Tilborgh (1625-ca.1678) Said to be Van der Witte family Detail

1600s Jan Siberechts, (Flemish-born English artist, 1627‑c.1700)  and Gilles van Tilborgh (Brussels ca. 1625-ca.1678) Said to be the Van der Witte family

1600s Jan Siberechts, (Flemish-born English artist, 1627‑c.1700) and Gilles van Tilborgh (Brussels ca. 1625-ca.1678) Said to be the Van der Witte family - Detail

1600s Jan Siberechts (Flemish-born English artist, 1627‑c.1700) and Gilles van Tilborgh (Brussels ca. 1625-ca.1678) Said to be Van der Witte family Detail

1675 attr Hendrick Danckerts (Dutch artist, from 1625 to 1689) Ham House from the South (around 1675-1679)

1675 attr Hendrick Danckerts (Dutch artist, from 1625 to 1689) Ham House from the South (around 1675-1679)

Hendrick Danckerts (c.1625-1680) was a Dutch landscape painter who moved to England, entering the service of Charles II & amp; the Duke of York, in 1658. Born in The Hague, Danckerts Began His career as an engraver & amp; in 1651, he Entered That city's Guild of St Luke. From around 1653-7, Danckerts Traveled in Italy determined to improve His painting technique. On his return to Holland, he established himself as a landscape painter, before Charles II invited him to England. He painted landscapes, especially views of harbors & amp; royal residences. He left England in 1679, to the two public hostility towards Roman Catholics after the Popish Plot controversy. Charles commissioned several important pieces from Danckerts, & amp; by 1688, The Royal Collection owned 29 works by the Dutch painter.

1690 Jan Siberechts (1627 ‑ c.1700) Landscape with Rainbow, Henley-on-Thames

1690 Jan Siberechts (Flemish-born English artist, 1627 ‑ c.1700) Landscape with Rainbow, Henley-on-Thames

Jan Siberechts (1627–1703) was born in Antwerp, the son of a sculptor with the same name. After establishing himself as an artist in Flanders, he moved to England during his forties. Siberechts was one of scores of Dutch & Flemish artists who came to Britain in the 17C. He was baptized in Antwerp in 1627. He was elected to the Guild of St Luke in 1648. By 1674, he was in England, apparently at the encouragement of George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham, who had seen some of Siberechts's landscapes in Antwerp in 1670. The artist was a Catholic, & one of his daughters became a lace-maker for the Queen. He was best known in England as a painter of topographical views of country houses & more general landscapes. He seems to have traveled widely in Britain, and was in Wales in 1696. He remained in England until his death.

1675 Hendrick Danckerts (Dutch artist, 1625-1689) Whitehall from St James's Park

1675 Hendrick Danckerts (Dutch artist, 1625-1689) Whitehall from St James's Park

Hendrick Danckerts (c.1625-1680) was a Dutch landscape painter who moved to England, entering the service of Charles II & amp; the Duke of York, in 1658. Born in The Hague, Danckerts Began His career as an engraver & amp; in 1651, he Entered That city's Guild of St Luke. From around 1653-7, Danckerts Traveled in Italy determined to improve His painting technique. On his return to Holland, he established himself as a landscape painter, before Charles II invited him to England. He painted landscapes, especially views of harbors & amp; royal residences. He left England in 1679, to the two public hostility towards Roman Catholics after the Popish Plot controversy. Charles commissioned several important pieces from Danckerts, & amp; by 1688, The Royal Collection owned 29 works by the Dutch painter.

1697 Jan Siberechts, (1627‑c.1700) Wollaton Hall and Park, Nottinghamshire

Jan Siberechts (1627–1703) was born in Antwerp, the son of a sculptor with the same name. After establishing himself as an artist in Flanders, he moved to England during his forties.  Siberechts was one of scores of Dutch & Flemish artists who came to Britain in the 17C. He was baptized in Antwerp in 1627.  He was elected to the Guild of St Luke in 1648. By 1674, he was in England, apparently at the encouragement of George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham, who had seen some of Siberechts's landscapes in Antwerp in 1670. The artist was a Catholic, & one of his daughters became a lace-maker for the Queen.  He was best known in England as a painter of topographical views of country houses & more general landscapes.  He seems to have traveled widely in Britain, and was in Wales in 1696. He remained in England until his death.

1697 Jan Siberechts, (Flemish-born English artist, 1627‑c.1700)  Wollaton Hall and Park, Nottinghamshire

17C English Gardens by L Knyff (1652-1722) & J Kip (1653-1722)

Hutton Hall the Seat of the Honble Sir George Fletcher Barrt 

17C Garden 1614

Dutch Garden, 1614, From Hortus Floridus in quo rariorum & minus vulgarium florum icones ad vivam varamque formam accuratissime delineatae. Arnheim

1675 Jan Siberechts, (1627‑c.1700) View of Longleat

Jan Siberechts, (Flemish-born English artist, 1627‑c.1700) View of Longleat

Jan Siberechts (1627–1703) was born in Antwerp, the son of a sculptor with the same name. After establishing himself as an artist in Flanders, he moved to England during his forties.  Siberechts was one of scores of Dutch & Flemish artists who came to Britain in the 17C. He was baptized in Antwerp in 1627.  He was elected to the Guild of St Luke in 1648. By 1674, he was in England, apparently at the encouragement of George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham, who had seen some of Siberechts's landscapes in Antwerp in 1670. The artist was a Catholic, & one of his daughters became a lace-maker for the Queen.He was best known in England as a painter of topographical views of country houses & more general landscapes.  He seems to have traveled widely in Britain, and was in Wales in 1696. He remained in England until his death.

1675 Hendrick Danckerts (Dutch artist, 1625-1689) Classical Figures in a Garden

1675 Hendrick Danckerts (Dutch artist, 1625-1689) Classical Figures in a Garden

Hendrick Danckerts (c.1625-1680) was a Dutch landscape painter who moved to England, entering the service of Charles II & amp; the Duke of York, in 1658. Born in The Hague, Danckerts Began His career as an engraver & amp; in 1651, he Entered That city's Guild of St Luke. From around 1653-7, Danckerts Traveled in Italy determined to improve His painting technique. On his return to Holland, he established himself as a landscape painter, before Charles II invited him to England. He painted landscapes, especially views of harbors & amp; royal residences. He left England in 1679, to the two public hostility towards Roman Catholics after the Popish Plot controversy. Charles commissioned several important pieces from Danckerts, & amp; by 1688, The Royal Collection owned 29 works by the Dutch painter.

1675 Jan Siberechts, (1627‑c.1700) A View of Bayhall, Pembury, Kent

1675 Jan Siberechts, (Flemish-born English artist, 1627‑c.1700) A View of Bayhall, Pembury, Kent

Jan Siberechts (1627–1703) was born in Antwerp, the son of a sculptor with the same name. After establishing himself as an artist in Flanders, he moved to England during his forties. Siberechts was one of scores of Dutch & Flemish artists who came to Britain in the 17C. He was baptized in Antwerp in 1627. He was elected to the Guild of St Luke in 1648. By 1674, he was in England, apparently at the encouragement of George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham, who had seen some of Siberechts's landscapes in Antwerp in 1670. The artist was a Catholic, & one of his daughters became a lace-maker for the Queen. He was best known in England as a painter of topographical views of country houses & more general landscapes. He seems to have traveled widely in Britain, and was in Wales in 1696. He remained in England until his death.

Whitehall from St James's Park by Hendrick Danckerts (1625-1689)

1675 Hendrick Danckerts (Dutch artist, 1625-1689) Whitehall from St James's Park.  In 1532, Henry VIII bought an area of marshland through which the Tyburn flowed from Eton College. It lay to the west of York Palace acquired by Henry from Cardinal Wolsey; it was purchased in order to turn York Palace, subsequently renamed Whitehall, into a dwelling fit for a king. On James I's accession to the throne in 1603, he ordered that the park be drained and landscaped, and exotic animals were kept in the park, including camels, crocodiles, an elephant and exotic birds were kept in aviaries.  While Charles II was in exile in France under the Commonwealth of England, he was impressed by the elaborate gardens at French royal palaces, and on his ascension he had the park redesigned in a more formal style, probably by the French landscaper André Mollet.

Hendrick Danckerts (c.1625-1680) was a Dutch  landscape painter who moved to England, entering the service of Charles II & the Duke of York, in 1658. Born in The Hague, Danckerts began his career as an engraver &in 1651, he entered that city’s Guild of St Luke. From around 1653-7, Danckerts traveled in Italy determined to improve his painting technique. On his return to Holland, he established himself as a landscape painter, before Charles II invited him to England.  He painted landscapes, especially views of harbors & royal residences. He left England in 1679, due to the public hostility towards Roman Catholics after the Popish Plot controversy. Charles commissioned several important pieces from Danckerts, & by 1688, The Royal Collection owned 29 works by the Dutch painter.

1678 Jan Siberechts, (1627‑c.1700) View of Longleat

Jan Siberechts (1627–1703) was born in Antwerp, the son of a sculptor with the same name. After establishing himself as an artist in Flanders, he moved to England during his forties.  Siberechts was one of scores of Dutch & Flemish artists who came to Britain in the 17C. He was baptized in Antwerp in 1627.  He was elected to the Guild of St Luke in 1648. By 1674, he was in England, apparently at the encouragement of George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham, who had seen some of Siberechts's landscapes in Antwerp in 1670. The artist was a Catholic, & one of his daughters became a lace-maker for the Queen.  He was best known in England as a painter of topographical views of country houses & more general landscapes.  He seems to have traveled widely in Britain, and was in Wales in 1696. He remained in England until his death.

1678 Jan Siberechts, (Flemish-born English artist, 1627‑c.1700)   View of Longleat

Figures in a Classical Garden by Hendrick Danckerts (1625-1689)

 1675 Hendrick Danckerts (Dutch artist, 1625-1689) Figures in a Classical Garden.  Gardens began to appear in frequently in 17C & 18C art. Landscape architecture gained more prominence in the building plans of the landed gentry.  In the 17C, the geometric layouts of ornamented Baroque gardens displayed designs of rigid symmetry often enormous in scale. In the 18C, landscape gardens became more relaxed, naturally sited often on irregular, undulating geography. Each garden type was the result of a different set of aesthetic values & current scientific & philosophical ideas. Emerging science was allowing mankind to evolve from the "interpreter" of Nature to the "master" of it. Gardens became the land owner's personally planned & owned outdoor stages of social interaction where age-old traditions of open-air dining & drinking; musical & theatrical performances; romantic meetings; & sports & games occurred.

Hendrick Danckerts (c.1625-1680) was a Dutch  landscape painter who moved to England, entering the service of Charles II & the Duke of York, in 1658. Born in The Hague, Danckerts began his career as an engraver &in 1651, he entered that city’s Guild of St Luke. From around 1653-7, Danckerts traveled in Italy determined to improve his painting technique. On his return to Holland, he established himself as a landscape painter, before Charles II invited him to England.  He painted landscapes, especially views of harbors & royal residences. He left England in 1679, due to the public hostility towards Roman Catholics after the Popish Plot controversy. Charles commissioned several important pieces from Danckerts, & by 1688, The Royal Collection owned 29 works by the Dutch painter.

Belhus House and Park by an Artist from the School of Jan Siberechts, (1627‑c.1700)

School of Jan Siberechts, (Flemish-born English artist, 1627‑c.1700) Belhus House and Park.

Described as 'newly builded' in 1526, this substantial early-Tudor house was built around a courtyard by John Barrett from about 1520. The Barrett family had owned the estate since 1346 & their land-holdings were such that they were the most important family in the Aveley & South Ockenden area. The name Belhus derived from C14 tenants of the manor who came from Ramsden Bellhouse. The first of the family, Nicholas, settled at Aveley in c 1327 & by the early C15 the Barretts had inherited by marriage a share of the Belhus estate. This they added to & consolidated until by the mid C17 they had built up one of the largest estates in Essex. John Barrett, who died in 1526, rebuilt Belhus House towards the end of his life. In 1618 Sir Edward Barrett obtained a license to make a park, & the elaborate parterre shown on an estate map of 1619 was probably of the same date. A bird's-eye view of the property in the late C17/early C18 shows much the same layout.

Jan Siberechts (1627–1703) was born in Antwerp, the son of a sculptor with the same name. After establishing himself as an artist in Flanders, he moved to England during his forties.  Siberechts was one of scores of Dutch & Flemish artists who came to Britain in the 17C. He was baptized in Antwerp in 1627.  He was elected to the Guild of St Luke in 1648. By 1674, he was in England, apparently at the encouragement of George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham, who had seen some of Siberechts's landscapes in Antwerp in 1670. The artist was a Catholic, & one of his daughters became a lace-maker for the Queen. He was best known in England as a painter of topographical views of country houses & more general landscapes.  He seems to have traveled widely in Britain, and was in Wales in 1696. He remained in England until his death.

Ham House from the South by Hendrick Danckerts (1625-1689)

 1675 attr Hendrick Danckerts (Dutch artist, 1625-1689) Ham House from the South (around 1675–1679) Ham House was completed for Sir Thomas Vavasour in 1610. A plan made by Robert Smythson in 1609, before the House was completed, shows an H-shaped building with a garden laid out in a formal design. William Murray, first Earl of Dysart lived at Ham from 1626, & his daughter Elizabeth, Countess of Dysart after him. Elizabeth's 2nd marriage in 1672 was to the Earl of Lauderdale who soon after became Duke. It was from her first marriage (1647) to Sir Lyonel Tollemache (third Baronet) that were descended the subsequent earls of Dysart (and the baronetcy of Tollemache) who cared for the estate until the 20C. In the 1670s Ham House, used mainly as a summer residence, was enlarged & refurbished. A new south wing was built & the garden extended to the south. The Duke died in 1682 & his widow continued to live at Ham until her death in 1698, when the estate passed to her son, the 3rd Earl of Dysart who, it would appear, took little interest in either the House or garden.

Hendrick Danckerts (c.1625-1680) was a Dutch  landscape painter who moved to England, entering the service of Charles II & the Duke of York, in 1658. Born in The Hague, Danckerts began his career as an engraver &in 1651, he entered that city’s Guild of St Luke. From around 1653-7, Danckerts traveled in Italy determined to improve his painting technique. On his return to Holland, he established himself as a landscape painter, before Charles II invited him to England.  He painted landscapes, especially views of harbors & royal residences. He left England in 1679, due to the public hostility towards Roman Catholics after the Popish Plot controversy. Charles commissioned several important pieces from Danckerts, & by 1688, The Royal Collection owned 29 works by the Dutch painter.

English Gardens & Grounds by Jan Siberechts, (1627‑c.1700)

1600s Jan Siberechts, Jan Siberechts, (Flemish-born English artist, 1627‑c.1700) and Gilles van Tilborgh (Brussels ca. 1625-ca.1678) Said to be Van der Witte family property Detail

Jan Siberechts (1627–1703) was born in Antwerp, the son of a sculptor with the same name. After establishing himself as an artist in Flanders, he moved to England during his forties.  Siberechts was one of scores of Dutch & Flemish artists who came to Britain in the 17C. He was baptized in Antwerp in 1627.  He was elected to the Guild of St Luke in 1648. By 1674, he was in England, apparently at the encouragement of George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham, who had seen some of Siberechts's landscapes in Antwerp in 1670. The artist was a Catholic, & one of his daughters became a lace-maker for the Queen. He was best known in England as a painter of topographical views of country houses & more general landscapes.  He seems to have traveled widely in Britain, and was in Wales in 1696. He remained in England until his death.

View Of St James's & The Gardens Overlooking St James's Park by Hendrick Danckerts (1625-1689)

 1675 attr Hendrick Danckerts (Dutch artist, 1625-1689) A View Of St James's And The Gardens Overlooking St James's Park From The South West.

Hendrick Danckerts (c.1625-1680) was a Dutch  landscape painter who moved to England, entering the service of Charles II & the Duke of York, in 1658. Born in The Hague, Danckerts began his career as an engraver &in 1651, he entered that city’s Guild of St Luke. From around 1653-7, Danckerts traveled in Italy determined to improve his painting technique. On his return to Holland, he established himself as a landscape painter, before Charles II invited him to England.  He painted landscapes, especially views of harbors & royal residences. He left England in 1679, due to the public hostility towards Roman Catholics after the Popish Plot controversy. Charles commissioned several important pieces from Danckerts, & by 1688, The Royal Collection owned 29 works by the Dutch painter.

English Gardens & Grounds by Jan Siberechts, (1627‑c.1700)

1600s Jan Siberechts, (Flemish-born English artist, 1627‑c.1700) and Gilles van Tilborgh (Brussels ca. 1625-ca.1678) Said to be the Van der Witte family Detail

Jan Siberechts (1627–1703) was born in Antwerp, the son of a sculptor with the same name. After establishing himself as an artist in Flanders, he moved to England during his forties. Siberechts was one of scores of Dutch & Flemish artists who came to Britain in the 17C. He was baptized in Antwerp in 1627. He was elected to the Guild of St Luke in 1648. By 1674, he was in England, apparently at the encouragement of George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham, who had seen some of Siberechts's landscapes in Antwerp in 1670. The artist was a Catholic, & one of his daughters became a lace-maker for the Queen. He was best known in England as a painter of topographical views of country houses & more general landscapes. He seems to have traveled widely in Britain, and was in Wales in 1696. He remained in England until his death.

View of the Queen's House and Greenwich Palace by Hendrick Danckerts (1625-1689)

 1670s Hendrick Danckerts (Dutch artist, 1625-1689) View of the Queen's House and Greenwich Palace from One Tree Hill

Hendrick Danckerts (c.1625-1680) was a Dutch  landscape painter who moved to England, entering the service of Charles II & the Duke of York, in 1658. Born in The Hague, Danckerts began his career as an engraver &in 1651, he entered that city’s Guild of St Luke. From around 1653-7, Danckerts traveled in Italy determined to improve his painting technique. On his return to Holland, he established himself as a landscape painter, before Charles II invited him to England.  He painted landscapes, especially views of harbors & royal residences. He left England in 1679, due to the public hostility towards Roman Catholics after the Popish Plot controversy. Charles commissioned several important pieces from Danckerts, & by 1688, The Royal Collection owned 29 works by the Dutch painter.

1657 Wollaton Hall and Park, Nottinghamshire by Jan Siberechts, (1627‑c.1700)

Jan Siberechts (1627–1703)  Wollaton Hall and Park, Nottinghamshire 1697.  

The early 14C manors of Wollaton & Cossall were acquired through marriages of the Willoughby family, & the park was enclosed for deer & wild white cattle between 1492 & 1510. The Willoughbys, who descended from a successful Nottinghamshire merchant Ralph Bugge (d 1240) had made their main residence at Middleton, Warwickshire; but when Henry Willoughby (c 1451-1528) exploited the coal reserves at Wollaton, he made what is now Wollaton Old Hall, near the church in Wollaton village, his chief residence.  Henry's great grandson Francis Willoughby (1547-96) became heir to the estates at the age of 12 in 1559, when his brother, Thomas, died. He commissioned Robert Smythson (1535-1614) to build Wollaton Hall. Built between 1580 & 1588, it is considered by many to be the most important Elizabethan house in Nottinghamshire & one of the most important in England.  The Hall was passed to Francis Willoughby's daughter Bridget who married her cousin Percival Willoughby (d 1643), but the property fell into disuse, until their grandson, Sir Francis (1648-88) created Baronet in 1677, inherited it at age 19 & took his brother, Thomas (d 1742) & sister, Cassandra (1670-1735) to live there. Wollaton Hall is set on a hill in the center of the wall-enclosed park. Sir Henry Willoughby had enclosed the park between 1492 & 1510 with a pale. 

The raised terrace to the south of the Hall with central pond, roughly corresponds to the design shown in the 'platt' or plan of the Hall & garden by Robert Smythson. John Smythson in a design dated 1618, for Sir Percival Willoughby, for the 'Newe Orchard,' shows the terrace to the south of the Hall already present & a proposed raised mount copying the plan of the house, planted with box, below. This was constructed, for Cassandra Willoughby describes its removal in her diaries of the late C17. From 1687 into the early 18C, Sir Francis, Thomas & Cassandra Willoughby made many improvements to the house & garden. The gardens to the north-east side of the house were extended as a D-shaped bowling green edged by a brick wall & railings within which were several curved terraces with rows of lime trees (see Siberechts paintings of the 1690s). The outline of the bowling green & the remnants of a row of lime trees survive outside the present line of the ha-ha. Cassandra referred to reforming the gardens with the advice of Mr Pratt, formerly of the Chelsea Physic Garden. Jan Siberechts, commissioned by Sir Thomas Willoughby, painted 3 versions of Wollaton Hall in 1695, 1697 & c 1697, two of which were similar bird's eye views but showing slight differences. These illustrate the terrace & central fountain, parterres to the east with a brick walled orangery, bowling green, & 2-storey gazebo. In one view, the lower terrace is laid out with parterres, on the other, orchards. The park contains a number of tree-lined avenues, most of those focused on the Hall having been laid out in the late 17C as illustrated in the Siberechts paintings of the 1690's & the Kip & Knyff engraving in Britannia Illustrata of 1707. To the north are 2 major avenues, one of sweet chestnut & oak planted in the 17C in 2 double rows, lined on the north front of the Hall. To the west of the Hall are field enclosures, separated by an avenue of sweet chestnut, originally a double avenue dating from the 17C.

Jan Siberechts (1627–1703) was born in Antwerp, the son of a sculptor with the same name. After establishing himself as an artist in Flanders, he moved to England during his forties. Siberechts was one of scores of Dutch & Flemish artists who came to Britain in the 17C. He was baptized in Antwerp in 1627. He was elected to the Guild of St Luke in 1648. By 1674, he was in England, apparently at the encouragement of George Villiers, 2nd Duke of Buckingham, who had seen some of Siberechts's landscapes in Antwerp in 1670. The artist was a Catholic, & one of his daughters became a lace-maker for the Queen. He was best known in England as a painter of topographical views of country houses & more general landscapes. He seems to have traveled widely in Britain, and was in Wales in 1696. He remained in England until his death.

The Manor House, Creswells. County of Berks by Hendrick Danckerts (1625-1689)

1670 attr Hendrick Danckerts (Dutch artist, 1625-1689) The Manor House, Creswells.  County of Berks.  Edward Weldon, Esq., of Bray, by his will, 1555, bequeathed his lease of the manor of Creswell to his wife Isabel.  In 1570 Richard Williams, Esq., devised the manor of Creshulle to his nephew, Will. Norreys, Esq.  William Goddard resided there about the year 1597, when he became possessed of Moors Farm, adjoining. A family of the name of Wilcox occupied the manor-house from about 1612 to 1670.  The manor was held by the family of Meeke, who sold their lease of it about 1780.

Hendrick Danckerts (c.1625-1680) was a Dutch  landscape painter who moved to England, entering the service of Charles II & the Duke of York, in 1658. Born in The Hague, Danckerts began his career as an engraver &in 1651, he entered that city’s Guild of St Luke. From around 1653-7, Danckerts traveled in Italy determined to improve his painting technique. On his return to Holland, he established himself as a landscape painter, before Charles II invited him to England.  He painted landscapes, especially views of harbors & royal residences. He left England in 1679, due to the public hostility towards Roman Catholics after the Popish Plot controversy. Charles commissioned several important pieces from Danckerts, & by 1688, The Royal Collection owned 29 works by the Dutch painter.