balthasar beschey was a flemish painter, draughtsman and decorative painter of interiors. he started his career as landscape painter but later on switched to history and portrait painting. he played a prominent role in the development of the academy of arts in antwerp and as a teacher.balthasar beschey was born in antwerp in 1708 as the son of jacob beschey and maria-theresia huaert. balthasar had four brothers, who all became painters. the best known was his elder brother carel who was a landscape painter. his younger brothers were jacob andries who specialized in religious scenes, jozef hen…