Melchior Hamers

Melchior Hamers (Antwerp, 26 January 1638 – Antwerp, 1709/10) was a Flemish painter, draughtsman, printmaker and publisher. He is known for his Italianate landscapes, scenes with hunters and battle scenes. He made a number of prints after designs by other artists, some of which he also published.

Life Hamers was born in Antwerp on 26 January 1638. He was registered as an apprentice of Willem van Herp in the Antwerp Guild of St. Luke in the guild year 1653–1654. He became a master in the Guild in the guild year 1657–1658. He may have travelled to Italy around 1668, as a fully signed painting, probably dated 1668, depicts the courtyard of the Palace of Venaria, a former royal residence and gardens located in Venaria Reale, near Turin in the Piedmont region in northern Italy. It is possible that this painting was made on site, which would imply that he was then likely in the employ of the Royal House of Savoy who owned the Venaria. On 3 January 1678 he entered into a contract to take on as apprenticeship Jan Baptist de Bie, the son of the painter Erasmus de Bie.

He must have died in 1709 or 1710 as his death duties were paid to the Guild between 18 September 1709 and 18 September 1710.

He is believed to have engraved some plates of two series of prints after designs by Cornelis de Wael, one on the five senses and one on the four seasons. Hamers and Willem Peeters were the principal engravers for these sets, which were published in Antwerp by Alexander Voet the Elder.