Matheiu Elias, Elyas, or Elie, was born at Peena, near Cassel, in 1658. His parents were extremely poor, and he was employed when a boy in attending cattle, in which humble situation he was noticed by a painter of
Dunkirk
Dunkirk (french: Dunkerque ; vls, label= French Flemish, Duunkerke; nl, Duinkerke(n) ; , ;) is a commune in the department of Nord in northern France.altar-pieces for the churches in that town and its neighbourhood. He died at Dunkirk in 1741.