Mattheus Terwesten

Mattheus Terwesten or Matthäus Terwesten (23 February 1670 – 11 June 1757) was a Dutch painter and art educator. He is known for his portraits as well as of mythological and allegorical subjects. He was a decorative painter he painted chimney pieces, overdoors, wall hangings and ceilings for the luxurious buildings of his time. He was director of The Hague Drawing Academy. He became court painter to Frederick William I of Prussia and professor at the Prussian Academy of Arts.

Life Terwesten was born in The Hague of parents of German origin. His father, Hans Jacob Terwesten or Zurwesten, was originally from Augsburg while his mother Catharina came from Berlin. They had married in The Hague in 1648, where Hans Jacob worked as a goldsmith. The marriage produced ten children, of whom three sons and two daughters survived. Augustinus was the oldest son. In his father's workshop Augustinus learned the art of engraving, goldsmithing and wax modelling. This was followed by two years of apprenticeship with the history painter Nicolaes Willingh, who became court painter to the Great Elector in Berlin in 1667. Ezaias, the middle son of the family, also worked temporarily in his father's workshop and settled later in Rome as a flower and fruit painter.

He initially studied under his 21 years older brother Augustin. He further received training from Willem Doudyns and Daniel Mijtens the Younger. He also became professor at the Academy of Berlin. He returned to The Hague in 1710. He married that same year Thedora van Rheenen with whom he had five children. Two of them—Augustinus the Younger and Pieter—also became painters. These collaborations were usually on decorative ceiling paintings, as well as chimney pieces and overdoors. When one of the flower painters was without a commission, Terwesten would occasionally paint a simple background motif such as a vase with drapery or playing putti and the specialist would add the flowers and have the finished painting offered for sale. Such a work was signed, if at all, by the flower painter.