Otto Marseus van Schrieck - Serpents et papillons dans un sous-bois, 1670

Otto Marseus van Schrieck (1619–1678) was a Dutch painter known for his still lifes of forest floors and forest scenes. He was born in Nijmegen and trained in Amsterdam under the artist Cornelis van Poelenburgh. Van Schrieck's unique style of painting included depictions of mushrooms, snakes and other small creatures found in the forest. His works were highly sought after by collectors during his lifetime and are now in prestigious museums around the world. Van Schrieck was known for his use of dark tones and dramatic lighting in his paintings, which added to the mysterious and eerie atmosphere of his forest scenes. He often included small details such as spider webs, insects and decaying leaves to create a sense of decay and the cycle of life and death in nature. Van Schrieck's paintings were strongly influenced by the Dutch Golden Age of painting, which emphasised realism and attention to detail. However, his unique subject matter and style set him apart from other artists of his time. Despite his success as an artist, Van Schrieck led a reclusive life and little is known about his private life. He died in Amsterdam in 1678 at the age of 59. Today, Van Schrieck's paintings are highly prized by collectors and art lovers. His works can be found in museums such as the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, the Louvre in Paris and the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C.