Jacob de Backer. Jacob de Backer was a Flemish Mannerist painter and draughtsman active in Antwerp between about 1571 and 1585.
Even though he died young at the age of 30, the artist was very prolific and an extensive body of work has been attributed to him. Art historians are not agreed on how many of these works are autograph or the product of a workshop.
The works attributed to the artist or his workshop are executed in a late-Mannerist style clearly influenced by Italian models. Very little is known about this artist.
The dates of his death and birth are unknown. Scholars do not agree on his life span nor the definitive scope of his oeuvre.
It is believed that he was born in Antwerp and died there c. 1591-1600. The early Flemish biographer Karel van Mander reported in his Schilder-boeck that de Backer was abandoned as a young boy by his father, also a painter, who had to flee Antwerp because of an impending court trial. He then worked for a number of years in the studio of a painter and picture dealer of Italian origin but Protestant confession known as Antonio van Palermo. He later entered the workshop of Hendrick van Steenwijck the Elder. Van Mander claimed that Palermo worked him so hard that the young de Backer died in the arms of his master's daughter at the age of thirty. As van Mander indicated that that had happened a long time ago it must have been before van Steenwijck left Antwer
Even though he died young at the age of 30, the artist was very prolific and an extensive body of work has been attributed to him. Art historians are not agreed on how many of these works are autograph or the product of a workshop.
The works attributed to the artist or his workshop are executed in a late-Mannerist style clearly influenced by Italian models. Very little is known about this artist.
The dates of his death and birth are unknown. Scholars do not agree on his life span nor the definitive scope of his oeuvre.
It is believed that he was born in Antwerp and died there c. 1591-1600. The early Flemish biographer Karel van Mander reported in his Schilder-boeck that de Backer was abandoned as a young boy by his father, also a painter, who had to flee Antwerp because of an impending court trial. He then worked for a number of years in the studio of a painter and picture dealer of Italian origin but Protestant confession known as Antonio van Palermo. He later entered the workshop of Hendrick van Steenwijck the Elder. Van Mander claimed that Palermo worked him so hard that the young de Backer died in the arms of his master's daughter at the age of thirty. As van Mander indicated that that had happened a long time ago it must have been before van Steenwijck left Antwer
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