Pieter Andreas Rijsbrack

Pieter Andreas Rijsbrack (1685 or 1690 – 1748) (sometimes Anglicized as Peter Rysbrack) was a Flemish painter of still lifes and landscapes who was active in England in the first half of the 18th century. He is particularly known for launching the vogue of topographical views of English country houses and gardens. He was the older brother of the sculptor John Michael Rysbrack.

Life Pieter Andreas Rijsbrack was born in Paris as the son of the Antwerp landscape painter Pieter Rijsbraeck and his wife Genoveva Compagnon. This served his brothers well as they were able to use these connections to gain commissions from prominent patrons. The series of paintings had an important influence on the fashion for sets of garden views that emerged in the second quarter of the 18th century and gained further popularity with the rise of the picturesque movement. He could thus better illustrate the scenographic and topographical variety of the site. He also included scenes of animals, gardeners and 'polite society' in the landscape thus introducing French influences into English painting and adding an element of social discourse.

In 1735 Rijsbrack painted An Exact Draught and View of Mr Pope's House at Twickenham. He was possibly the first artist to paint Alexander Pope's villa from across the river.

At international auctions landscape paintings of Rijsbrack more reminiscent of the classicizing style of his father are regularly offered for sale. An example is the Travellers in a classical landscape. A work in a similar style entitled A Southern Landscape with Muleteers is part of the collection at the National Trust, Hatchlands.