Biography from: The National Gallery, London
Jan Brueghel the Elder was born in Brussels in 1568, the son of Pieter Brueghel the Elder.
He is said to have been taught in Antwerp by Pieter Goetkint and to have visited Cologne.
From 1589-1596 he worked in Italy, mainly in Naples, Rome, and Milan where he met one of his most important patrons, Cardinal Federico Borromeo, who remained a lifelong friend.