Hans Knieper

Hans Knieper (alternative names: Hans Kniepper, Hans Knipper, Johan van Antwerpen, Hans Maler, Hans Knibber, Jan Knibber, signature: I. D. Knibber and monogram IDK) (probably Antwerp? – Elsinore, 2 November 1587) was a Flemish painter and draughtsman. He became a court painter and tapestry cartoon designer at the Royal Danish Court and ran a tapestry weaving shop in Denmark.

Early life and training Very little is known about Knieper's early life and training in Flanders. He was likely born in Antwerp, as he was referred to by the name 'Johannes de Antwerpia' in his initial contract with the Danish king. A training in Brussels has been proposed based on a possible link with the Brussels family of weavers de Smet and the fact that he added a mark composed of a crown and a B to the tapestries that he designed for Kronborg Castle in Denmark. The B mark was a famous mark of a Brussels weaving workshop. have been attributed to him. Knieper's portrait painting and in particular the portrait of Frederick II represent a break with the domestic portrait tradition. It is the oldest known full-length profane portrait that is furthermore set into a three-dimensional pictorial space.

Knieper married Marine Johansen who survived him.