The Life of Matthieu van Plattenberg
Matthieu van Plattenberg was a Flemish Baroque painter, draughtsman, etcher, and engraver who specialized in marine paintings and landscapes. Born in Antwerp, he likely studied under the marine painter Andries van Eertvelt. He traveled to Italy alongside van Eertvelt, working in Florence. From around 1630, he worked in Paris, where he studied under the Flemish émigré painter Jacques Fouquier, who taught him the art of etching.
In Paris, he was active as a designer of embroidery patterns and a copper engraver. He married the sister of the French painter, engraver, and publisher Jean Morin, and the two collaborated on publishing projects featuring van Plattenberg's engravings. He was a founding member of the Académie Royale de Peinture et de Sculpture in 1648 and held the title of Peintre du Roy pour les mers. He remained a member of the Academy until his death in Paris.
Artistic Style and Works
Van Plattenberg's work is characterized by depictions of vividly coloured storms featuring turbulent, foaming seas. His artistic output included:
- Marine paintings and landscapes
- Three dozen engravings depicting sea- and landscapes
In France, he used several names, including Matthieu de Platte-Montagne, Matthieu Montaigne, and M. Montaigne. Some of his works were previously attributed to a painter known as Monsù Montagna or Renaud de la Montagne.
