The date of birth of the painter and etcher Peeter Bout, who also worked as a staffage painter for Adriaen Frans Boudewijns, Lucas Achtschellinck or Jacques d'Arthois, is as little known as the time at which Bout completed his education and with whom. Often the baptism date is 3th or 5th December 1658. Since Bout was already documented as a master in the Brussels Painters' Guild in 1670/71 and his appointment would have hardly taken place at the age of 12 or 13, the year of birth must be set earlier, probably between 1640 and 1645. From about 1675 to 1677 Bout stayed in Paris and probably also undertook a longer trip to Italy. Two different mentions of 1667 and 1695 document his marriage in Brussels. On 17th June 1689 Bout made his will and died in Brussels on 19th June of the same year. Other sources indicate 1702 or early 1719 as the year of death.
