Lodewijk de Vadder

Lodewijk de Vadder (1605, Brussels – 1655, Brussels) was a Flemish Baroque landscape painter, draughtsman, engraver and tapestry designer.

He came from a family of painters: his father and brothers were painters. His brother Philippe de Vadder was likely his teacher. He became a master of the Brussels Guild of St. Luke in 1628. In 1644 he obtained from the Brussels city authorities a privilege to make tapestry cartoons. He made cartoons principally for the Brussels weaving workshops of Jan Cordijs and Boudewijn van Beveren.

His pupils were and possibly also Lucas Achtschellinck.

It was originally believed that he only produced small-scale works marked with the monogram LDV. It has been demonstrated that he was responsible for a number of large-scale works that were formerly attributed to his contemporary Jacques d'Arthois. Like Arthois, de Vadder painted the landscapes with woods and rural areas around Brussels with a preference for sunken paths. De Vadder's style is freer in composition and, with its loose, broad brushwork and intense colours, reminiscent of Rubens’ style.

De Vadder, his presumed pupil Lucas Achtschellinck and Arthois are usually referred to collectively as "The Sonian Forest Painters".

He also drew cartoons for various tapestry manufacturers in Brussels. He was an accomplished draughtsman and some of his drawings were engraved and printed.

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