Henri Leys

Antique Prints · Historical Artist

Belgian historical painter · Antwerp, 1815–1869 · Created a baron in 1862

Jan August Hendrik Leys, known as Henri Leys, was one of the leading Belgian painters of the 19th century. Born in Antwerp in 1815, he studied at the Antwerp Academy and in the studio of his brother-in-law, the genre painter Ferdinand de Braekeleer, and earned a European reputation for history and genre paintings that rebuild 16th-century Flemish life through carefully researched costume, architecture and furnishings.

VanArtHub offers antique 19th-century engravings made after his paintings. Henri Leys is a historical artist and is not represented by the gallery.

History paintingGenre scenes16th-century FlandersAntique engravings

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Subjects

History and genre scenes set in the Antwerp and Flanders of the 16th century: townspeople, civic ceremonies and furnished interiors, with costume, architecture and heraldry reconstructed in detail.

Recognition

Gold medals at the international exhibitions in Paris in 1855 and 1867, knight of the French Legion of Honour, and created a baron by King Leopold I of Belgium in 1862.

Antwerp Town Hall

Commissioned in 1861 to paint murals of the city's history for the restored Antwerp Town Hall. Four murals and eleven portraits of historical rulers were completed before his death in 1869.

Pupils

His pupils included Lawrence Alma-Tadema, who assisted him on the Antwerp murals, and his nephew Henri De Braekeleer.

Available prints

1 antique print · free shipping · 14-day returns

The Guests

Antique Steel Engraving, 1881, engraved by J. Greatbach

$400.00 CAD

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Where this work belongs

Studies and librariesHallwaysGallery wallsOfficesCollections of Victorian prints

Questions

Who was Henri Leys?

Jan August Hendrik, Baron Leys (1815–1869), known as Henri Leys, was a Belgian painter and printmaker from Antwerp. He was a leading figure of the historical school in Belgian art, known across Europe for scenes of 16th-century Flemish life.

Is Henri Leys represented by VanArtHub?

No. Henri Leys is a historical artist who died in 1869. VanArtHub, the Vancouver gallery at 1242 Davie Street, offers antique 19th-century prints made after his paintings.

What are the Henri Leys prints at VanArtHub?

They are antique engravings published in the 19th century after paintings by Henri Leys and cut by specialist engravers such as J. Greatbach. They are period impressions, not modern reproductions, and they are not original paintings.

Can I see the print in person?

Yes. VanArtHub is at 1242 Davie Street in Vancouver. Call ahead to check the print is at the gallery before you come, or ask us for more photographs.

Is shipping included?

Yes. Shipping is free to Canada, the USA and the UAE, and every piece comes with a 14-day return policy. Other regions on request.

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