Anthoni Schoonjans

Anthoni Schoonjans, nicknamed Parhasius[a] (1655 – 13 August 1726) was a Flemish painter known for his portraits as well as his history paintings.

After training in Antwerp he had an international career, which saw him work in various countries in Europe including France, Italy, Germany, Austria, The Dutch Republic and Denmark.

[1] Schoonjans was born in Ninove as the son of Joannes Schoonians, a wine merchant, and Anna de Gruytere and was baptized on 5 March 1655.

[2] In April 1696 Schoonjans traveled to Frankfurt am Main, Kassel and Hamburg together with the Flemish painter Jan Frans van Douven.

[3] He painted an altarpiece of the Martyrdom of St Sebastian for the St. Roch's Church and a Visitation of Mary for the St. Stephen's Cathedral in Vienna.

[2][4] The Queen was not only or primarily interested in seeing the painter return but was more keen to welcome back his wife whose singing skills she enjoyed particularly.

[5] In 1704 Schoonjans traveled to England where he painted the stairwell in Montagu House, Bloomsbury and also made a portrait of a certain doctor Peeters.

[6] Anthoni Schoonjans painted history pieces, mythological scenes, religious subjects and portraits.