Melchior de la Mars (c. 1585 – 1650)
• Was was a Flemish Baroque painter.
• He was active in Ghent.
• His activity in Ghent is recorded in 1621, when he signed and dated the Circumcision of the infant Christ made for the altar of the church of Augustine Church in Ghent.
• A year later he signed the Maria Magdalen in ecstasy (Royal Museums of Fine Arts of Belgium).
• The artist was registered in the Guild of Saint Luke until 1622.
• It is believed that the artist was also an art dealer and was thus able to export his own works, which explains their presence in French collections.
• Only two known signed works by the artist are known.
