Born in Antwerp towards the year 1637, died in Venice after 1712. In 1649 he was a pupil of Jan Fyt. Perhaps as early as the sixties he moved to Venice, where he was given the name Giacomo (Jacopo) del Cimitero or Jacopo (Giacomo) da Castello. His early work was strongly influenced by Jan Fyt, but later Kerckhoven developed a fairly personal style. His canvases, quite a large number of which have been found, represent accurate depictions of animals and objects in an almost metallic light, which is often reminiscent of some paintings from Lombardy from the early 18th century. He collaborated with many painters who were active in Venice, adding still life motifs with figures on their canvases.
Lit.: La natura morta in Italia, Editor Francesco Porzio, Vol. I., Milano 1989 (Text: A. Safarik); Settecento, Vol. I-II, Milano 1989 (biogr. Marina Monticelli); De Maere & Wabbes: Illustrated Dictionary, Vol. I and II, Brussels 1994.