""Born in the Dutch town of Gouda, he based himself in Bruges from an early age"".With these words, Karel van Mander, the author of the 1604 work "Het Schilder-Boeck, over t' leven der Vermaerde Doorluchtighe Schilders" (""The Book of Painters, about the life of Renowned Honourable Painters"") describes his colleague from Bruges.