Romancing - Mathijs Wulfraet (Arnhem 1648 - Amsterdam 1726)

Oil on copper

signed with monogram lower right: "MW."

Matthijs Wulfraet was a Dutch Golden Age painter.

Young Mathijs had more interest in drawing than anything else and even though he was punished for drawing more often than studying, he went on collecting prints, drawings, and drawing utensils to keep up with his hobby. He met Abraham Diepraam who was visiting Arnhem and influenced the young amateur. Seeing that his son had already failed at two different schools, Mathijs father gave up and let Mathijs become Diepraam's pupil, especially since Diepraam had a good reputation in Arnhem and his paintings sold quite well there. When young Wulfraet within a short space of time became a successful artist in his own right, he moved to Amsterdam, where he was successful painting historical allegories and merry companies