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| Quentin Matsys |
During the 15th century, the centres in which the painters of the Low Countries most gathered were Bruges, Ghent and Brussels. Leuven gained prominence toward the end of this period, employing workmen from all of the crafts.
In the beginning of the 16th century Antwerp took the lead which it afterward maintained against Bruges, Ghent, Mechelen, Brussels, and Leuven. Matsys, as a member of the Antwerp guild, was one of its first leading artists.
We do not know by whom Matsys was taught, but his style seems to have derived from the art of Dirk Bouts, who himself was influenced by Memling and van der Weyden. When Matsys at the age of 25 settled at Antwerp, his own style contributed importantly to reanimate Flemish art along the lines of van Eyck and van der Weyden.