Abraham was the son of Adam Willaerts, the successful marine painter and founding member of the Utrecht Guild of St Luke. After training with his father he later studied with Jan van Bijlert in Utrecht and with Simon Vouet in Paris. In 1624 he became a master of the Utrecht Guild of St Luke and from 1637 to 1644 he was in the entourage of Count John Maurice of Nassau-Siegen during his travels to Brazil, and in 1659 he visited Naples and Rome. However, despite his extensive and exotic travel, he was most profoundly influenced by his father, to the extent that it is very difficult to distinguish between their paintings. Both Adam and Abraham specialised in marines and shore scenes with imaginary rocks, elegant staffage...