MEULEN (Anthony Francis Vander), painter of battles, &c. was born at Brussels in 1634; and was a disciple of Peter Sneyers, a battle-painter of considerable note. Some of his compositions happening to be carried to Paris, were shown to M. Colbert; who
soon discerned the abilities of Vander Meulen, and by his generous offers induced him to leave his native city and settle at Paris. Here he was employed by Louis XIV. and had an appointment of 2000 livres pension, beside being paid for his work. He attended that monarch in most of his expeditions in the field, and designed on the spot the sieges, attacks, encampments, and marches, of the king's armies, also the views of those cities and towns memorable by any degree of success; and from those sketches he composed the paintings, which were intended to perpetuate the remembrance of those military exploits. He died in 1690. The principal works of this master are at Versailles and Marli; but many of his cabinet pictures are dispersed through England, France, and Flanders.