Abraham Hondius

Abraham Hondius, The Stag Hunt , Norwich Castle, 1675

Abraham Danielsz. Hondius (about 1631 – 17 September 1691) was a Dutch Golden Age painter known for his depictions of animals. He was the son of a city stonemason, Daniel Abramsz de Hondt.

Hondius was born in Rotterdam and trained under Pieter de Bloot (1601–1658) and Cornelis Saftleven. He lived in Rotterdam until 1659 and moved then to Amsterdam. He moved to London in 1666, where he spent the rest of his life. Hondius combined throughout his career several stylistic influences and struggled to develop a style of his own. He however specialised somehow in animal pieces: more than two-thirds of his paintings, etchings and drawings are hunting scenes, animals fighting and animal studies. He also executed landscapes, genre and religious scenes.

Hondius most likely moved to London in 1666 where he spent the rest of his life and died. He painted views of London such as The Frozen Thames and London Bridge. His last known work is Ape and Cat Fighting over Dead Poultry, dated 1690.

The Frozen Thames by Abraham Hondius in the Museum of London, showing Old London Bridge and what is now Southwark Cathedral in 1677.