 In the seventeenth century, van Veen often worked for the Archdukes Albert and Isabella, but never as their court painter.Later paintings include a series of twelve paintings depicting the battles of the Romans and the Batavians, based on engravings he had already published of the subject, for the Dutch States General.He had two brothers who were painters; Gijsbert van Veen (1558–1630) was a respected engraver and Pieter was an amateur.