or SNEYDERS, FRANCIS, one of the ablest coadjutors of Rubens, and the prince of animal-painters, particularly in the representation of wild animals in action, was born at Antwerp in 1679. Snyder followed the style of his master Henry Van Balen until the completion of his apprenticeship, when he pursued the bent of his own genius in the representation of fruit, vegetables, and dead game. It is admitted even by the most fastidious critics, that for masterly design, vigorous handling, and richness of colouring, he has never been surpassed in this particular department. Some writers report that this artist went to Italy, but as this statement does not hang well together, it may be judicious to give over repeating it. He subsequently adopted the study of wild beasts, and succeeded in representing such animals as the lion, the wolf, and the boar, particularly when roused to fury by the pursuit or attack of men or dogs, with amazing truthfulness of expression. Snyders afterwards became a coadjutor of the great painter Rubens. Fruit, vegetables, dead game, and wild animals, where they are introduced into the designs of this artist, were almost invariably painted by Snyders. Rubens reserved to himself the harmonizing of the whole picture, and he generally designed or suggested those wild animals which he left to others to paint. In numerous instances, pictures attributed to Rubens or to Jordaens, were for the most part executed by Snyders. He usually painted the animals in a picture, and left it to others to execute the human figures and the accessories. Thus, in many of the pieces of Rubens, the human figure was executed by him besides the entire design, and his friendly rival, Snyders, completed the animal portion of the picture. Between Rubens, Jordaens, and Snyders there seems to have been a more perfect artistic harmony, than can be pointed out in any other liberal brotherhood short of the dramatists of Queen Elizabeth's reign in England. Numerous illustrations of Snyders painting are to be seen in many of the English collections. The manner of this admirable artist has been imitated by his pupils Jacobs and Boël. Snyders died in 1657.