Bernard van Orley
(Flemish, c.1488-1541)
Bernard van Orley was a Flemish painter born in Brussels around 1488. Van Orley’s father and younger brother were both painters, and early in his career van Orley was commissioned by Margaret of Austria to paint portraits of Philip the Fair’s children. By 1518, he was appointed the court painter for Margaret of Austria and remained in the position during the reign of her successor, Mary of Hungary.
Van Orley was a master of the High Renaissance style, despite no evidence showing that he ever travelled to Italy. He created portraits for the Habsburg Netherlandish court as well as tapestries and stained glass works. He died in Brussels in 1541.
