Biography

He was born in a painting family in Antwerp and became a student of Francois Franken van Herentals

Francken

In the Francken family of Antwerp in the 16th and 17th centuries were 11 painters. Many bore the same Christian name in succession. Hence there is confusion in the classification of paintings not differing widely in style or execution...

. He became a master in the Guild of St. Luke in 1584, and then travelled to Paris

Paris

Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...

 with the painter Jan de Mayer. He did quite well, and when he came back, he married Gertrude de Jode, sister to Pieter de Jode I and aunt of Pieter de Jode II

Pieter de Jode II

-Biography:He learned drawing and engraving from his father, Pieter de Jode I , whose engravings were a source for Karel van Mander. He travelled to Paris with him to make engravings, and on his return he married Justa Galle, the widow of Adriaen Collaert and the daughter of Philip Galle.He started...

, in 1588. He became dean of the guild in 1594.

His sons Cornelis de Wael

Cornelis de Wael

Cornelis de Wael was a Flemish painter of the Baroque period, active mainly in Italy, specifically Genoa. He was born in Antwerp, the son of a painter, and died in Rome.-Biography:...

 and Lucas de Wael

Lucas de Wael

Lucas de Wael was a Flemish painter of the Baroque period, active in Italy, specifically Genoa.-Biography:He was born in a painting family in Antwerp as the son of the painter Jan de Wael I and Gertrude de Jode, making him a cousin of Pieter de Jode II. His brother, Cornelis de Wael accompanied...

 became etchers and spent a long period in Italy where they settled in Genua. When Anthony van Dyck

Anthony van Dyck

Sir Anthony van Dyck was a Flemish Baroque artist who became the leading court painter in England. He is most famous for his portraits of Charles I of England and his family and court, painted with a relaxed elegance that was to be the dominant influence on English portrait-painting for the next...

 visited Genua he stayed with the brothers.

External links

• Jan de Wael at the Fitzwilliam