Matthias Withoos - Woodland Still Life with a Mouse, Goldfinch and Salamander

Matthias Withoos - Woodland Still Life with a Mouse, Goldfinch and Salamander

Matthias Withoos was born in Amersfoort in 1627. His father Jan Janses Withoos was the host of the well-known tavern ‘Het Valckje’ in Amersfoort. For six years he studied under Jacob van Campen, a famous Dutch architect and painter. In 1648 he went to Rome to live and paint over there for a couple of years. In 1653 he returned to Amersfoort. He married Wendelina, resulting in 4 sons and 4 daughters. In 1672 Amersfoort was occupied by the French, and Matthias fled to Hoorn (the birthplace of his wife) , where he would remain until his death in 1703.