Biography

Flemish painter, father of Abel Grimmer. He did his apprenticeship in Antwerp in 1539, studying under Gabriel Bauwens, Mathys Cock and Cerstian van den Queckborn. He became a free master in 1547, married in 1548 and had four children. He most probably travelled to Italy as was the norm for young painters.

His work marked a major turning point in the development of 16th-century Flemish landscape painting. His interpretation of landscape, inspired by the views of the areas surrounding Antwerp, and the rural scenes he includes within, demonstrates a new conception. Simplified, plain landscapes, which made their appearance towards the middle of the century, were largely his invention. The fantastic panoramas, whimsically-shaped gigantic rocks and natural undulations still dear to Lucas Gassel, were abandoned in favour of a simplicity and authenticity never achieved before. Colours also became more real, with a constant desire to portray well-constructed, atmospheric values according to the coherence of all the details, in an effort to respect the unity of the composition. He often filled his landscapes with characters and small anecdotal scenes with the same spontaneity and the same naturalist vision,

Marten van Cleve and Gillis Mostaert collaborated with him. He had a great influence and inspired numerous painters such as his son Abel, as well as Gillis van Coninxloo, Jan Brueghel II and Jan Wildens.