Izaak Godijn

They were part of a group of artists who worked from 1687 to 1693 for Count Wenzel Adalbert von Sternberg on the decoration of the Troja Palace in Prague.

[4] After Abraham Godijn returned to Antwerp, Izaak was in Prague employed as a court painter to Count Wenzel Adalbert von Sternberg from 1693 to 1712.

Underneath the curved surfaces below the ceiling, angels and putti are floating before trompe-l'œil architecture showing scenes from Habsburg history.

[5] The fresco programme achieved a sophisticated and complex synthesis of fictionalist painting of architecture and lively figural scenes.

[3] As Izaak's participation in the paintings in the castle of Troja is not documented, he is now mainly recognised for his introduction of the hunting still life into Bohemia.

His hunting pieces drew inspiration from the works of Frans Snyders in their sumptuousness and decorative aspect and from those of Jacobus Victors and Melchior de Hondecoeter in their overall conception and use of the landscape.

In his compositions he placed the brightly illuminated prey in front of a gloomy landscape or a dark kitchen interior.