From paint to pots: the material world of the seventeenth-century Antwerp painter Guilliam de Vries

In the seventeenth century, Antwerp was a major centre of artistic
production, home to renowned painters such as Rubens, Van
Dyck and Jordaens. However, little is known about the material
environment of these artists, particularly from an archaeological
perspective. Excavations in one of the city’s elite historical residences
uncovered a substantial assemblage of late seventeenthcentury
ceramics and glass, which historical sources link to the
household of still-life painter Guilliam de Vries. By analysing this
archaeological material alongside De Vries’s probate inventory,
this study provides insights into the artist’s material affluence and
the spatial organization of objects within his home. While only
one painting by De Vries is known today, re-examining the inventory
ultimately offers some new perspectives on his artistic
practice.