Collection: Herri met de Bles

Herri met de Bles, also known as Henri Bles or Herry de Patinir, was a Flemish painter born around 1490 in Bouvignes or Dinant. Active until after 1566, he worked within the Northern Renaissance tradition, contributing to the development of landscape painting. His oeuvre also incorporates elements of Mannerism, establishing him as a significant figure in the transition of Flemish art.

De Bles, alongside Joachim Patinir and Lucas Gassel, developed a distinct style of landscape painting that evolved from Gerard David's work. These artists depicted landscapes from a high viewpoint, often featuring rocky masses and atmospheric effects rather than strict realism. His compositions typically integrated small history or religious scenes, or everyday activities such as mining, agriculture, or trade, as seen in works like Landscape with Saint John the Baptist (c. 1540). His workshop was located in Antwerp.

De Bles's work represents an important link between the Antwerp Mannerists, Pieter Bruegel the Elder, and later 16th-century landscapists. His approach to integrating narrative elements within expansive, atmospheric landscapes shows strong similarities with Patinir and Bruegel, influencing the trajectory of Northern European landscape art.