Jacob Biltius

Jacob Biltius or Jacobus Biltius (The Hague, baptized 27 November 1633 – Bergen op Zoom, 8 February 1681) was a Dutch still life painter originally from The Hague who worked in various places including The Hague, Amsterdam, Maastricht, Antwerp, Leeuwarden and Bergen op Zoom. He was known for his game still lifes, kitchen still lifes and trompe-l'œil still lifes.

Life Jacob Biltius was born in The Hague as the son of Bartholomeus Bilt and an unknown mother. The profession of his father is not known. He was baptized on 27 November 1633. He studied in The Hague under the obscure French painter Carel Hardy around 1651 and later with Pieter de Putter, a painter known for his fish still lifes.

He married Adriana Proot van der Jeucht in 1653. The couple had 8 children of whom Cornelis and Bartholomeus became painters. In 1661, Biltius moved to Amsterdam, where he remained until 1666. Between 1666 and 1670 he was active in Maastricht. The Consistorie's best known member was the Flemish painter Jacob Jordaens whose house was the venue where its members congregated between 1674 until his death in 1678. Jan Weenix and Melchior d'Hondecoeter also painted trompe l'oeil still lifes often representing game birds hanging in a niche or against a monochrome wall. Biltius’ trompe l'oeil compositions show a very accurate and precise representation of nature. As it was common in Dutch households of the time to have birds actually suspended in their homes, the illusionistic works of Biltius would likely have confounded the viewer thus achieving their desired effect. Some of these works were of a large size, adding to their realism and illusionistic impact.