The painter and draughtsman, Jan Cossiers, received his initial training from Cornelis de Vos, the famous Antwerp portraitist and history painter. In 1623 he travelled to Aix-en-Provence, where he was given further training by the Dutch painter, Abraham de Vries. In 1627 the artist returned to his native city, became a member of Rubens’ inner circle there and a year later was accepted as a master into the Guild of St. Luke. Cossiers began his artistic career as a painter of genre themes in the manner of Caravaggio and, under the watchful eye of Rubens, developed in the 1630s into one of the leading portraitists and history painters in Flanders. Cossiers’ sensitively observed and masterfully executed portraits enjoyed increasing popularity amongst the affluent middle classes in Antwerp. Moreover, he was also a highly talented draughtsman, as is apparent from a series of striking and vividly observed portraits of children. These delicate portraits often depicted close family members.