(b Haarlem, c. 1415; d 1475). He is mentioned several times in the archives of Leuven between 1457 and his death, although his name is sometimes confused with that of Hubrecht Steurbout, another painter in Leuven. In 1468 Bouts was named official painter to the city. A century later the chronicler in Leuven, Joannes Molanus, remarked that he ‘excelled as an innovator in depicting the countryside’. Bouts was also described, by van Mander ([1603]–1604), as a founder of the Haarlem school of painting along with Albert van Ouwater and Geertgen tot Sint Jans. However, it is his representation of landscape that is still recognized as his principal contribution to 15th-century Netherlandish painting.

Part of the Bouts family

• Bouts, Dieric, I (c. 1415-75)
  • Bouts
  • Brethren of the Common Life
  • Leuven
  • Netherlands, the, §III, 2: Painting and graphic arts, c 1400–c 1525
  • assistants
    • Justus of Ghent, §2(i): Life and work: The Netherlands
  • attributions
    • Forgery, §II, 2: Authentication techniques: Historical evidence
    • Goes, Hugo van der, §2: Work
    • Masters, anonymous, and monogrammists, §I: Master of the Legend of St Lucy
    • Masters, anonymous, and monogrammists, §I: Master of the Munich Arrest of Christ
    • Masters, anonymous, and monogrammists, §I: Master of the Pearl of Brabant
    • Ouwater, Albert van
    • Przezdziecki, Aleksander
  • copies
    • Masters, anonymous, and monogrammists, §I: Master of the Ehningen Altar
  • methods
    • Oil painting, §2(i): 12th–15th centuries
    • Size
  • paintings
    • Belgium, §III, 2(i): Panel, wall and glass painting, 1400–c 1550
    • altarpieces
      • Bouts: (1) Dieric Bouts I, §1(ii): Life and work, after c 1460
      • Bouts: (2) Albrecht Bouts
      • Keldermans: (2) Andries Keldermans I
      • Renaissance, §3: Renaissance, 1450–c 1500
      • Symbol, §3: Indirect symbolism
    • justice scenes
      • Dress, §V, 2(ii): Northern Europe, 1416–1500
      • Justice scenes, §1: The Last Judgement
      • Justice scenes, §2: Other subjects
    • landscape
      • Landscape painting, §II, 3: 15th century
    • religious
      • Bouts: (1) Dieric Bouts I, §3: Posthumous reputation
      • Iconographic programmes, §2: c 1420–c 1550
  • patrons and collectors
    • Aders, Carl
    • Aragon: (6) Isabella
    • Belgium, §XII, 1: Patronage, 15th century
    • Rogers, Samuel
  • pupils
    • Masters, anonymous, and monogrammists, §I: Master of the Tiburtine Sibyl
    • Zeitblom, Bartholomäus
  • teachers
    • Brussels, §III, 1: Art life and organization, before 1829
  • workshop
    • Flags and standards, §1(v): European `true’ flags, from the Middle Ages