Abraham Willaerts (c. 1603 - 1669),
• Was awas a Dutch Baroque painter.
• Abraham Willaerts was born in Utrecht, the son of the painter Adam Willaerts.
• He trained with his father, a marine painter.
• He later studied with the Utrecht Caravaggist Jan van Bijlert in Utrecht.
• He became a member of the Utrecht Guild of Saint Luke in 1624. • He travelled to Paris in 1628 where he worked in the workshop of painter Simon Vouet.
• He returned to his home country in 1635.
• On 1637 or 1638 Willaerts sailed to Brazil serving in the entourage of Count John Maurice of Nassau-Siegen, the governor of the Dutch possessions in Brazil.
• He had returned to the Netherlands in 1644.
• In 1659-60 he visited Rome.
• Here he joined the Bentvueghels, an association of mainly Dutch and Flemish artists working in Rome.
• Abraham Willaerts was reportedly given the bent name 'Indian'.
• This nickname was likely given him because of his travels among the Brazilian tribes.
• He died in Utrecht.
• His brother Isaac was also a marine painter.
