Peter van Boucle (Antwerp, c. 1600-1610 – Paris, 1673) was a Flemish Baroque painter who spent much of his life in Paris, where he was one of the most prolific Flemish still life painters. His name is often mentioned in the history of the genre alongside other Flemish animal and still life painters active in the French capital.
Little is known about his training and early years. He claimed to have been a pupil of Frans Snyders, although no written sources in Antwerp confirm this; his works, however, show stylistic similarities with Snyders's. His father, Carel, an engraver, became a master in the Antwerp Guild of St. Luke in 1603 and emigrated to Paris in 1617. Peter was registered with him in Paris in 1623, when many Flemish artists were working in the Saint-Germain-des-Prés district.
In Paris he worked for a time with the still life painter Lubin Baugin in the studio of Simon Vouet, where they designed tapestries that have not been located. He probably also knew Jacques Linard and Louise Moillon, whose work has affinities with his. He signed his paintings with the initials PVB, so his works are sometimes confused with those of other artists such as Pieter van den Bos and Peeter van den Bemden.
His output centres on still lifes and animal subjects. He is considered one of the best Flemish animal painters, together with Pieter Boel and Nicasius Bernaerts. Like Snyders, he often included cats and dogs in his compositions. He worked for varied patrons, from nobles and courtiers to hop merchants. Many of his paintings allude to wealth and luxury, with glossy fruit and vegetables set against jewellery, silverware and Chinese porcelain, whose smoothness he rendered with great skill. Most of his works are now in private collections.
According to the early French biographer Florent le Comte, he died in poverty because of a dissolute life, despite his success as an artist; the account should be treated with caution.