ABRAHAM VAN DIEPENBEECK ('S HERTOGENBOSCH 1596-1675 ANTWERP)

Born in ‘s-Hertogenbosch, Johannes Chrysostomus vander Sterre was the abbot of St. Michael’s abbey in Antwerp from 1629 until his death in 1652. He was a patron of the arts and wrote a number of ecclesiastical works, including Vita Sancti Norberti, a life of Norbert of Xanten. His portrait was painted by Katharina Pepijn, as well as this fine picture by Diepenbeeck, a pupil and assistant of Rubens, who travelled to Italy and England but spent the majority of his career working in Antwerp.