Background
Dirk"s father Hans (1568–1605) emigrated to Dordrecht after Dirk was born.
Dirk"s father Hans (1568–1605) emigrated to Dordrecht after Dirk was born.
He became apprenticed to a silversmith, and learned drawing and engraving, but according to Houbraken he wanted to learn the new German method of goldand silver-plating, so he undertook a journey to Germany.
There he met some Dutch painters and became more drawn to drawing and painting. He stayed on there some years with success. Houbraken tells of an instance where he fell ill and the woman who let him a room tended to him and sent for the priest.
He spit out the sacramental bread, because he didn"t want to die a Catholic, and this was found later under his bed by the woman, and at Easter she told him he had to move out.