Born in
Haarlem, Cornelis Corneliszoon was a pupil of
Pieter Pietersz in Haarlem, and later
Gillis Coignet in Antwerp. He is known among art historians as a member of the
Haarlem Mannerists, who were highly influenced by the work of
Bartholomeus Spranger, whose drawings were brought to Haarlem by
Carel van Mander in 1585, and had a strong immediate effect. He painted mainly portraits as well as
mythological and
Biblical subjects. Initially Cornelis Cornelisz painted large-size, highly stylized works with Italianate nudes in twisted poses with a grotesque, unnatural anatomy. Later, his style changed to one based on the
Netherlandish realist tradition. When his parents fled
Haarlem, as the Spanish army laid siege to the city in 1573 during the
Eighty Years' War, Cornelis Cornelisz remained behind and was raised by the painter
Pieter Pietersz the Elder, his first teacher. Later, in 1580–1581 Corneliszoon studied in
Rouen, France, and Antwerp (with Coignet), before returning to Haarlem, where he stayed the rest of his life. He became a respected member of the community and in 1583 he received his first official commission from the city of Haarlem, a militia company portrait, the Banquet of the Haarlem Civic Guard. He later became city painter of Haarlem and received numerous official commissions. As a portrait painter, both of groups and individuals, he was an important influence on Frans Hals. He married Maritgen Arentsdr Deyman, the daughter of a mayor of Haarlem, sometime before 1603. In 1605, he inherited a third of his wealthy father-in-law's estate. ==Works==