Born in Leiden circa 1637, Abraham Begeyn appears not to have studied with any particular master, though by tradition it is thought that he may have been taught by Nicholas Berchem. We find his name mentioned as a member of the Guild of St. Luke in Leiden between the years 1655 and 1667. Having travelled to Italy twice, Begeyn moved to London in 1672 and stayed for two years. During this time he completed 14 paintings for the Earl of Lauderdale at Ham House, several of which are still on display. In 1688 Begeyn was summoned to Berlin where he rapidly came to the notice of the Grand Elector and soon became the leading Court painter.
As a painter of animals, he was as important as Nicholas Berchem and Jan Asselijn, and many of his landscapes recall the work of Jan Baptist Weenix, especially in the treatment of foliage. Begeyn typically painted landscapes bathed in golden Italiante light with pillars, arches and flights of steps in the antique manner, placing in the foreground large lifelike clumps of thistles or weeds. He also talented at painting flower still lifes, hunting scenes, and sottoboscos. His paintings are usually signed.