François Duchatel

[3] It was traditionally believed that he was a pupil of David Teniers the Younger likely because his paintings of village feasts show some ressamblance with works of that master.

[3] In January 1654 Gaspar de Crayer and Duchatel sign a contract with the Averbode Abbey to paint a The confession of faith of St. Norbert and the brothers of his order on the Christmas night of 1120.

[8] Some authors state that Duchatel went to Paris where he worked as assistant to the Flemish battle painter Adam Frans van der Meulen.

These scenes often included mercenaries and prostitutes dividing booty, harassing captives or indulging in other forms of reprehensible activities.

[11] It is possible that in line with the moralizing intent of the genre, the armour is a reference to the vanitas motif of the transience of power and fame.

Around the same time Lucas Vorsterman II engraved a plate after a design by Jacob van Werden which depicts a very similar scene and composition.

Duchatel's work shows a view of the Vrijdagmarkt (Friday Square) of Ghent with crowds of people and soldiers.

It is led by the governor general followed by a suit of Flemish aristocrats, magistrates and high clergy in their colourful clothes of the period.

Linked to this work is the composition Charles II receives the Spanish Ambassador, Claude-Lamoral, Prince de Ligne, in 1660, which is also attributed to Duchatel.

King Charles II stands on a dais with a gold-trimmed red chair of state behind him to receive the ambassador and his young son.