Jan de Wael was born in an artist family in Antwerp and was a pupil of Frans Francken I.

He became a master in the Guild of St. Luke in 1584 and then travelled to Paris with the painter Jan de Mayer.

He did quite well, and when he came back, he married Gertrude (or Gertruyt, Geertruijdt) de Jode in 1588.

[3] The principal importance of Jan de Wael lies in his role as a teacher.

[3] Media related to Jan de Wael at Wikimedia Commons