Denis van Alsloot is a transient figure in 17th-century Flemish art, one of the artists of the Sonian Forest School, which set the foundations of the Flemish landscape. He was born and made a career in Brussels, where he also received his education as an artist.
His father was probably also an artist, a master of the urban guild of tapestry artists in Brussels. Denis van Alsloot himself also received his masterly testimony from the St Luke guild in Brussels as a designer of tapestries. This was relatively late, sometime around the end of the century, in 1599, and the artist was not involved in anything other than sketching tapestry projects until 1606 when his first signed painting was dated. He signed the initials 'S.A.Pic.' and gradually specialized in painting canvases with urban landscapes, mostly urban holidays and carnivals.
His glory went out of Brussels and he began receiving paid commissions from wealthy clients and royal yards. He has been working for the Spanish rulers of the Netherlands at that time, Albert and Isabella, but also for other influential clients.