Cornelis de Vos was born in Hulst and studied under David Remeeus in Antwerp between 1559 and 1604. In that year, he petitioned the City Council for a passport that would allow him to travel abroad – perhaps to Italy – but it is not known whether he actually did so. In 1608 De Vos joined the Guild of St. Luke as a master painter; when he became a citizen of Antwerp in 1616 he gave his occupation as an art dealer. He travelled to Paris on several occasions. In 1619 he was made Dean of the Guild of St. Luke. His heyday as a painter of portraits of the bourgeoisie with extraordinary vivacity, psychological intensity and pictorial quality was between 1620 and 1630. In 1635 he worked with Rubens on the decorating of the triumphal arch for the entry of Cardinal-Infante Don Fernando and, later, on the series of canvases for the Torre de la Parada Royal Hunting Lodge, which can now be found in the Museo del Prado.
De Vos developed the religious genre in a style derived from Rubens, along with paintings of taverns and guardhouses in the tradition of Caravaggio. However, he owes his standing fundamentally to his excellent portraits, particularly of children and family groups. His outstanding, monumental quality and clear colour range vie with Van Dyck.
Cornelis de Vos was born in Hulst and studied under David Remeeus in Antwerp between 1559 and 1604. In that year, he petitioned the City Council for a passport that would allow him to travel abroad – perhaps to Italy – but it is not known whether he actually did so. In 1608 De Vos joined the Guild of St. Luke as a master painter; when he became a citizen of Antwerp in 1616 he gave his occupation as an art dealer. He travelled to Paris on several occasions. In 1619 he was made Dean of the Guild of St. Luke. His heyday as a painter of portraits of the bourgeoisie with extraordinary vivacity, psychological intensity and pictorial quality was between 1620 and 1630. In 1635 he worked with Rubens on the decorating of the triumphal arch for the entry of Cardinal-Infante Don Fernando and, later, on the series of canvases for the Torre de la Parada Royal Hunting Lodge, which can now be found in the Museo del Prado.
De Vos developed the religious genre in a style derived from Rubens, along with paintings of taverns and guardhouses in the tradition of Caravaggio. However, he owes his standing fundamentally to his excellent portraits, particularly of children and family groups. His outstanding, monumental quality and clear colour range vie with Van Dyck.