Willem Adriaensz. Key was born in 1516 in Breda and became a prominent Flemish artist known for his portraiture and religious and historical subjects. Key began his artistic career as an apprentice in the studio of Pieter Coecke van Aelst in Antwerp, where he worked with important patrons and had access to imperial collections. He later joined the workshop of Lambert Lombard in Liège, gaining exposure to the theoretical foundations of Renaissance art.

Key registered with the Antwerp Guild of Saint Luke in 1540, establishing his professional standing in the city. Upon returning to Antwerp in 1542, he emerged as one of the leading painters in the region, receiving commissions from civic leaders and members of the merchant elite. Hi...