From paint to pots: the material world of the seventeenth-century Antwerp painter Guilliam de Vries

In the seventeenth century, Antwerp was a major centre of artistic production, home to renowned painters such as Rubens, Van Dyck and Jordaens. However, little is known about the material environment of these artists, particularly from an archaeological perspective. Excavations in one of the city’s elite historical residences uncovered a substantial assemblage of late seventeenth-century ceramics and glass, which historical sources link to the household of still-life painter Guilliam de Vries. By analysing this archaeological material alongside De Vries’s probate inventory, this study provides insights into the artist’s material affluence and the spatial organization of objects within his home. While only one painting by De Vries is known today, re-examining the inventory ultimately offers some new perspectives on his artistic practice.