Caspar de Crayer (1584 - 1669)

Crayer’s apprenticeship with Raphaël Coxie is not documented. From around 1607 he was in Brussels, where he became a master in the Guild of St Luke and deacon from 1614 to 1616, and trained many apprentices between 1610 and 1661. In 1664 he moved to Ghent. His oeuvre includes portraits, equestrian pictures and religious scenes. In 1636 Crayer was appointed court painter to Cardinal-Infante Ferdinand of Austria. His status was confirmed by Philip V and Archduke Leopold Wilhelm. In two lawsuits in 1667, he was granted the tax exemption to which as court painter he was entitled, and his claim to a pension from the Archbishop of Ghent recognised. After the death of Rubens, Crayer, his “pogo amigo”, completed some unfinished works.

Author: Ducke Astrid

Literature: Ducke Astrid, Habersatter Thomas (Hrsg./Edi.): von | from 0 auf | to 100. Residenzgalerie Salzburg 1923-2023. Salzburg 2023, S./p. 290