Cornelis Schut III Paintings

Cornelis Schut III was a Flemish painter, part of an extended family of artists, with his grandfather Cornelis Schut I being the most notable member. Born in Antwerp in 1629, he grew up in an environment rich in artistic tradition. The Schut family had established itself as a dynasty of painters, and Cornelis III was trained within this artistic milieu, although records about his training are scant.

Cornelis Schut III worked in a period that was dominated by the influence of Peter Paul Rubens, who had a significant impact on the style and subjects of Flemish art. It’s important to note that while Cornelis Schut I was a direct follower of Rubens, by the time of Cornelis III, the Baroque style was becoming more diffused and was adapting to local tastes and the demands of patrons. As such, Cornelis III's work may have reflected this transition, showing both the grandeur of the Baroque style and the beginnings of its evolution into something more regionally specific.

Little is known about Cornelis Schut III's career and personal life, and his oeuvre has not been as thoroughly documented as that of his more famous grandfather. There is evidence to suggest that he was active in Antwerp and may have been a member of the Guild of Saint Luke, the city's guild for painters and other artists. His death is recorded in 1685, but the circumstances surrounding it remain obscure, as does the extent of his artistic legacy.

Given the commonality of names within the Schut family and the period's practice of attributing works to more prominent family members or masters, it is possible that some of Cornelis III’s works have been misattributed or simply absorbed into the collective output of the Schut family or other contemporaneous artists. As such, while Cornelis Schut III was undoubtedly a part of the rich tapestry of Flemish art in the 17th century, he remains one of the lesser-documented artists of his time.