Gerrit Houckgeest (1600 - 1661). Gerard Houckgeest was a Dutch Golden Age painter of architectural scenes and church interiors. Houckgeest is thought to have been born in The Hague, where, according to the RKD, he learned to paint from Bartholomeus van Bassen and worked in The Hague, Delft, Steenbergen and Bergen op Zoom. Some believe he spent some time in England as well. He specialized in painting imaginary church interiors and renaissance buildings, and died in Bergen op Zoom.Some of his works now reside at the Mauritshuis.