Abraham Hondius was a painter of the Dutch Golden Age who is thought to have been born between 1625 and 1650. He is best known for his paintings of hunting scenes and animals, especially dogs, for which he is often compared to Peter Paul Rubens. Hondius grew up in Rotterdam as the son of a stonemason, and in 1666 moved to London where he began creating paintings of the city. One of his best-known works, The Frozen Thames (1677), depicts an eastern view of Southwark Cathedral during an exceptionally cold winter when the river froze over, showing crowds of people walking and skating over the ice. Hondius remained in London until his death from gout on September 17, 1691.