VALCKENBORCH, Gillis van

Flemish painter, part of a family of artists active in Germany. He was the son of Marten van Valckenborch, nephew of Lucas van Valckenborch and brother of Frederik van Valckenborch. By 1586, Marten and his two sons had settled in Frankfurt am Main, where Lucas joined them in 1592-93.

Most of Gillis’s few surviving works are on large canvases of oblong format, a type also favoured by his uncle Lucas. His Mannerist style, notable for its precise drawing, strong colours and panoramic landscapes, was well suited to mythological scenes involving large animated groups of figures and dramatic action.