Cornelis van der Geest was a spice merchant from Antwerp, who used his wealth to support the Antwerp artists and to establish his art collection. He was also the dean of the haberdashers guild.
Portrait of Cornelis van der Geest by Anthony van Dyck, before 1620, now in the National Gallery
(1) Collection of Cornelis van der Geest with Joseph and Potiphar's wife, c. 1630
(2) Alexander the Great visits the studio of Apelles, c. 1630
(3) Apelles painting Campaspe, c. 1630
Quentin Matsys (1466–1530) was a Flemish painter in the Early Netherlandish tradition. He was born in Leuven. There is a tradition alleging that he was trained as an ironsmith before becoming a painter. Matsys was active in Antwerp for over 20 years, creating numerous works with religious roots and satirical tendencies. He is regarded as the founder of the Antwerp school of painting, which became the leading school of painting in Flanders in the 16th century. He introduced new techniques and motifs as well as moralising subjects without completely breaking with tradition.
Quentin Matsys, engraved by Johannes Wierix with Dominicus Lampsonius' poem about how Matsys' girlfriend preferred the quiet paintbrush to the heavy noise of hammering
Head of an Old Man
Detail of a c. 1500 Calendar Clock Face which shows the artist with his 'brothers' Joost the clockmaker and Jan
The Money Changer and His Wife (1514) Oil on panel, 71 × 68 cm Louvre Abu Dhabi
