Pieter Bout

Pieter Bout (between 1640 and 1645 – between 17 June 1689 and 1719) was a Flemish painter, draughtsman and printmaker. He is known mainly for his landscapes, city, coast and country views and architectural scenes painted in a style reminiscent of earlier Flemish masters such as Jan Brueghel the Elder. His clear and soft palette announces the 18th century.

Life Even while Pieter Bout was well known in his time as demonstrated by his frequent collaborations with prominent Flemish painters and his substantial output, the details of his life are not very well established. He was probably born in Brussels somewhere between 1640 and 1645. He is not identical to a Pieter Bout who was baptized in Brussels on 5 December 1658, as is erroneously stated in most sources on the artist. Bout returned to Brussels in 1677, where he married a second time on 9 August 1695. His paintings often include lively scenes such as village festivals and people having fun on the ice. Pieter Bout collaborated on a beach view with Lucas Smout who painted the landscape. This work, referred to as Harbour and Fish Market (Musée des beaux-arts de Quimper), possibly represents a view of the beach and port of Scheveningen as in its composition and figures it closely resembles Pieter Bout's Selling Fish at the Beach of Scheveningen (Van Ham Auctions, 11 May 2012, Lot 518).

The Rijksmuseum attributes to Bout a religious painting entitled The Adoration of the Shepherds.

Bout's drawings and etchings are similar to his paintings in style and subject matter.