Simon Verelst (1644 - 1721). Simon Pietersz Verelst was a Dutch Golden Age painter. Verelst was born in The Hague. According to the RKD he was the son of Pieter Harmensz Verelst and became a pupil in the Confrerie Pictura at the same time as his brother Herman in 1663. In 1668 he moved to London, where he died. He called himself the God of Flowers, but is known for portraits as well as flower and fruit still life paintings.