Lambert de Hondt the Elder

Lambert de Hondt the Elder or Lambert de Hondt (I) (c. 1620 – before 10 February 1665) was a Flemish painter, tapestry designer and draughtsman mainly known for his equestrian and battle scenes as well as his genre, landscape paintings and religious subjects.

[2] This other artist who also specialised in battle scenes and made designs for tapestries around 1700 is referred to as Lambert de Hondt the Younger.

De Hondt must have enjoyed high-level patronage as one of his paintings (An Encampment with Soldiers Playing Cards, now at the Wellington Museum, Apsley House, London) is marked with a white fleur-de-lis, and originally had a coat of arms on the back.

Paradise landscapes depict the Garden of Eden as described in the Book of Genesis, filled with all the animals, fish and birds that were believed to be God's creation.

Jan Brueghel was employed at the court of the Archdukes Albert and Isabella in Brussels, which maintained an extensive animal menagerie.

Jan Brueghel was thus in an ideal position to study many domestic and exotic animal species and include them in his compositions.