 Pourbus began to gain a reputation in Bruges for his artwork and innovation; the Italian Ludovico Guicciardini names him as one of the most important painters of his time in his "Descrittione di tutti i Paesi Bassi" or "Description of all the Low Countries" in 1567.Blondeel passed away in 1561, and Pourbus soon surpassed him in notoriety.In the years that followed, he taught many apprentices, including his son and Antonius Claeissens.