CRAYER, GASPARD DE

(1584-1669)

   Gaspard de Crayer (or de Craeyer) was born in Antwerp on 18 November 1584. He arrived in Brussels about 1604 and entered the workshop of Raphael Coxcie, the son of Michiel Coxcie. De Crayer was admitted to the painters' guild in 1607 and was elected dean in 1614-1615 and 1615-1616. Beginning in 1612 he was commissioned to produce works for the Spanish royal house and its governors-general in Brussels. In 1621, he painted for the Chamber of Accounts three large portraits of the deceased monarchs Charles V, Philip II, and Philip III. Toward the end of his career de Crayer moved to Ghent, where he died on 27 January 1669.