Barend van Orley

circa 1492 - Brussels – 1541
(attr. to)


Bernard van Orley, who was a painter of history, portraits, tapestry and glass artist was Valentin van Orley’s son and pupil in Brussels. He became a Master of the Guild in 1515 and worked in the service of Margaret of Austria. In 1527, he did the portrait of the young Charles V, his sister Eleanor, Christian II of Denmark and his wife Isabelle. He was granted the title of court painter to the Infanta Margerita in 1518. Van Orley did many portraits of her up to 1527, when he was disgraced and shunned for his Protestant leanings. However, he went back into service with the Governess Mary of Hungary in 1530.
Moreover, Bernard van Orley achieved fame as a painter of tapestries and decorator. Amongst his pupils, there figured Michel Coxie, Pieter Coecke van Aelst and his three sons, who as painters themselves continued his art.