Matthijs Balen (1684 in Dordrecht – 1766 in Dordrecht) was an 18th-century painter from the Northern Netherlands.
According to the RKD he was a registered pupil of Arnold Houbraken, and afterward him, became a printmaker as with ease as a painter. He lived in The Hague from 1705–1715 and is known for Italianate landscapes, portraits, and historical allegories.
He was probably the son or grandson of the Dordrecht writer Mathias Balen, who wrote Beschryvinge der stad Dordrecht in 1677. Houbraken himself had been a pupil of Samuel van Hoogstraten and was friends with Romeyn de Hooghe, both of whom assisted the elder Balen next some poems and etchings for his book.
What do you think of the works of Matthijs Balen?
Use the form below to say your opinion about Matthijs Balen. All opinions are welcome!