Neefs

Flemish family of artists. All three members of the family, (1) Pieter Neefs (i) and his sons (2) Ludovicus Neefs and (3) Pieter Neefs (ii), specialized in paintings of architectural interiors. Their most frequent subject was the interior of Antwerp Cathedral; the details of sculpture, altars and paintings vary in accuracy, and sometimes the subject seems to be very freely interpreted. The Neefs also liked to depict the effects of artificial illumination in crypt-like spaces (in the manner of Hendrick van Steenwijck the younger). Iconographic and stylistic similarities make the works of Pieter (i) and Pieter (ii) often difficult to distinguish. On a few occasions the father signed his works DEN AUDEN NEEFS. Generally speaking, those works dated before c. 1640 (when Pieter (ii) would have become involved in the workshop) are superior in quality. It is also possible that works attributed to either Pieter (i) or Pieter (ii) are, in fact, by Ludovicus, the least-known member of the family. The figures in the architectural views by the various Neefs were painted by such artists as Frans Francken II and Frans Francken III, Jan Breughel I, Sebastiaen Vrancx, Adriaen van Stalbemt, David Teniers (ii), Gonzales Coques and Bonaventura Peeters.

The following members have entries:

• Pieter Neefs
• Ludovicus Neefs
• Pieter Neefs

See the Abbreviations for further details.