Gillis Peeters (1612 – 1653),
• Was a Flemish painter, draughtsman and engraver.
• He was born in Antwerp.
• He was the older brother of the marine painters Catharina, Jan I and Bonaventura Peeters.
• He is recorded in 1631 as the pupil of the Dutch flower painter Anthony Claesz the Younger.
• In 1634 Gillis became together with his brother Bonaventura a master in the Antwerp Guild of Saint Luke.
• Initially the two brothers shared a studio in Antwerp until in 1641 Bonaventura moved to Hoboken (Antwerp) where he worked in a studio with his siblings and pupils Catharina and Jan Peeters.
• It is believed that Gillis travelled to Brazil, possibly on two occasions.
• During his stay in Brazil he produced four paintings of views of Brazil and numerous drawings that were subsequently used by himself and his brother Bonaventura in paintings of Brazilian scenes.
• He was the father of Willem, Gillis the Younger and Bonaventura the Younger.
• Bonaventura the Younger was a sailor and marineand landscape artist.
• He died in Antwerp.
• One of the earliest recorded work is the Landscape with Watermill (Rijksmuseum) dated 1633.
