Thomas Mertens

Thomas Mertens or Thomas Merens (fl. 1666–1669) was a Flemish still life painter active in Antwerp who is known for his fruit still lifes and pronkstillevens.

Life Little is known about the life of Mertens other than that he was born in Antwerp as the son of the still life painter Cornelis. He is believed to have trained with his father. The artist was active in Antwerp in the second part of the 1660s.

The place and date of his death are unknown. The last record on him is his registration as a master of the Antwerp Guild of St. Luke in the guild year 1669/1679. Mertens was a specialist still life painter who is known for his fruit still lifes and pronkstillevens (i.e. sumptuous still lifes of luxurious objects). Another artist who influenced Mertens was Joris van Son, whose technique and preference for smooth finishes he shared. His work is further similar to that of other artists who were influenced by de Heem such as W. Mertens with whom he may have been related.