Nicasius Bernaerts, a Flemish painter of animals

Animalier

An animalier is an artist, mainly from the 19th century, who specializes in, or is known for, skill in the realistic portrayal of animals. "Animal painter" is the more general term for earlier artists...

 and flowers, was born at Antwerp in 1608, and was a scholar of Frans Snyders. The subjects of his pictures bear a great resemblance to those of his master, and it is certain that they have been sold as the genuine productions of Snyders. He went to Italy, and on his return
settled in Paris, where his works were much appreciated. He was admitted into the Paris Academy

Académie de peinture et de sculpture

The Académie royale de peinture et de sculpture , Paris, was founded in 1648, modelled on Italian examples, such as the Accademia di San Luca in Rome. Paris already had the Académie de Saint-Luc, which was a city artist guild like any other Guild of Saint Luke...

 in 1663, and died in 1678. There are two paintings
by him in the Louvre

Louvre

The Musée du Louvre – in English, the Louvre Museum or simply the Louvre – is one of the world's largest museums, the most visited art museum in the world and a historic monument. A central landmark of Paris, it is located on the Right Bank of the Seine in the 1st arrondissement...

, where he is called Nicasius. Zani places his birth in 1593, and his death in 1663.

According to the RKD he became master of the Guild of St. Luke in Antwerp in 1654. His pupil was François Desportes.