Art, literature & historyWillem van Aelst
1627–1679
Selected artwork
Still life with Poultry
1658
Rijksmuseum
Other names (95)
Aelst, A. van Aalst, B. van Aalst, Gilemo van Aelst, Gillis van Aalst, G.me van Aelst, Gme. Van Alst, Guellimo van Aelst, Guglielmo Vaalest, Guglielmo Vanlest, Guglielmo von Alst, Guiellemo van Aelst, Guiellimo van Aelst, Guiellmo van Aelst, Guilielmo van Aalst, Guilielmo van Aelst, Guiljam van Aelst, Guiljelmo van Aelst, Guillaume Van-Aelst, Guillelmo van Aalst, Guillelmo van Aelst, Guilleuame van Aalst, Guillielmo d'Olanda, Guillielmo van Aelst, Guillimo van Aelst, Guillmo van Aelst, Guill. Van Achst, Guill: van Aelst, Guil. van Aelst, Gulielmo V. Alest, Guliel. Van Alst, Guli. Van Aelst, Gullelmo van Aalst, Guomo. van Aelst, G. v. Aalst, G. van Aalst, G. van Aelst, G. van Aolst, Monsù Guglielmo, Monsù Gulielmo, Monsù Guliel.o, N. Van Aelst, V. Aelst, Valdenaft, Valdenast, V. Alst, van Aals, Van Aalst, van Aelst, van aelst wm, Van Ailst, Van Alest, Van Alst, van der Aalst, Vander Aalst, Vander Aelst, Vander Ælst, van der Alst, Vanelst, Van Elst, Van Haelst, Vanolsten, Varnas fiammengo, Varnas fiammingo, Von Olst, VVilliam Verelst, Wilhelm van Aelst, Wilhem Van Alst, Willem Jansz van Aelst, Willem Valdenaft, Willem Valdenast, Willem van Aalst, Willem Van Aelst, Willem Van Alest, willem van alst, Willem Vander Aalst, Willem Vander Aelst, Willem Van Elst, Willem Van Haelst, Willem Von Olst, Willhelm van Aelst, William van Aelst, William Van Alst, William Varelst, William Verelst, Will. Varelst, Will. Verelst, Will. Verelt, Will. Verhelst, Will von der Alst, Wm. Van Aelst, Wm. van der Aalst, W. van Aalst, W. Van Aelst, W. Verelst
Biography
Willem van Aelst (16 May 1627 – buried 22 May 1683) was a Dutch Golden Age artist who specialized in still-life painting with flowers or game.
Van Aelst was born in Delft to a family of prominent city magistrates. He learned to paint from his uncle, the still-life painter Evert van Aelst. On 9 November 1643 he enrolled as a master of the Guild of Saint Luke at Delft.
Between 1645 and 1649 he lived in France. In 1649 Van Aelst travelled to Florence, where he served as court painter to Ferdinando II de' Medici, grand duke of Tuscany. Here he was known as Guillielmo d'Olanda. At this time, the grand duke also employed two fellow Dutchmen Matthias Withoos and Otto Marseus van Schrieck, the latter also a still-life painter who probably influenced Van Aelst's style. Ferdinando II publicly presented Van Aelst with a gold chain and medal, as a testimony of his approbation and an acknowledgement of his talents.
It has been conjectured that Van Aelst visited Rome where he became a member of the Bentvueghels, an association of mainly Dutch and Flemish artists active in Rome.
Wikipedia contributors. Opening excerpt, formatted for reading. CC BY-SA 4.0. Source revision.
Influenced by
- Evert van Aelsteditorial inference
Evidence
Wikidata assertion retained for review; its references, if supplied, have not been independently verified. Teaching is recorded separately and does not itself establish artistic influence.
- Otto Marseus van Schrieckeditorial inference
Evidence
Explicit secondary-source assertion; independent historical verification remains pending.
Later influence
- Abraham Mignoneditorial inference
Evidence
The cited biography explicitly attributes artistic influence or inspiration to the named painter(s); retained as a secondary-source assertion. Explicit secondary-source assertion; independent historical verification remains pending.
- Rachel Ruyscheditorial inference
Evidence
Wikidata assertion retained for review; its references, if supplied, have not been independently verified. Teaching is recorded separately and does not itself establish artistic influence.
Artworks by year
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Museums & collections
Documented holdings of works attributed to Willem van Aelst. Check the museum’s record for current display information.
- Academy of Fine Arts Vienna2 recorded works
- musée des Augustins — Toulouse2 recorded works
- Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts2 recorded works
- musée de Melun — Melun1 recorded work
- National Gallery of Art1 recorded work
- Rijksmuseum1 recorded work