Alexander Adriaenssen (1587–1661)

• Was a Flemish Baroque painter.
• Alexander Adriaenssen was born in Antwerp.
• He was the son of the famous Antwerp composer and lute player Emmanuel Adriaenssen and Sibilla Crelin.
• His younger brother Vincent became a battle painter.
• Another younger brother called Niclaes became a portrait painter.
• Alexander was registered as the pupil of Artus van Laeck in 1597.
• In 1610 he became a master of the Guild of St. Luke of Antwerp.
• Rubens was an admirer and bought two of Adriaenssen's works for his collection.
• The artist married Maria Seeldraeyers on 2 February 1611.
• The couple had 6 children.
• The battle painter Peter Snayers was the godfather of one and Isabella Brandt, Rubens' first wife, the godmother of another.
• In 1632 Philips Milcx became his pupil.
• Adriaenssen was one of the artists working on the decorations for the Joyous Entry into Antwerp of the new governor of the Habsburg Netherlands Cardinal-Infante Ferdinand in 1635.
• Adriaenssen paid his dues of the Guild of St. Luke each year until 1633.
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