Balthasar van der Ast

Born in Middelburg around 1593 or 1594, Balthasar van der Ast's artistic journey began after his father's passing in 1609. He moved in with his older sister, Maria, and her husband, the renowned still life painter Ambrosius Bosschaert the Elder. Bosschaert became van der Ast's mentor, and his early works clearly reflect this influence. This family connection was so strong that later, when Bosschaert died, van der Ast in turn trained Bosschaert's three sons, forming what is s…