Richard van Orley

For an essential study on the artist, see: Alain Jacobs, Richard van Orley Bruxelles 1663–1732, Brussels, Royal Library 2003, 173 pages (original text in French and also exists translated into Dutch).

Richard van Orley was an important engraver and is particularly known for his prints after drawings by Augustin Coppens documenting the devastating effect of the Bombardment of Brussels by French troops in 1695.

Richard van Orley was born in Brussels in 1663 and trained with his father Pieter (called Siret), who was a landscape artist and miniaturist.

[2] It is assumed that Richard van Orley studied or lived for some time in Italy because he left a series of drawings of the Development of Rome (Royal Library of Belgium, Brussels).

[3] Richard van Orley was a prolific artist who left an extensive oeuvre in a wide variety of techniques.

His principal subjects are history and mythology drawn from stories in the bible, novels, the classics and spiritual meditation booklets.

[2] The Museum of Fine Arts in Ghent holds two compositions by van Orley with mythological scenes set in lush Classicist landscape.

Richard van Orley created a series of paintings on the life of Saint Norbert for Tongerlo Abbey, only one of which survives (Royal Museum of Fine Arts Antwerp).