Background
He was born in Mechelen and is mentioned in 1554/55 as a pupil in Antwerp of the Mechelen painter Anthuenes (Anthoni) Bessemer.
He was born in Mechelen and is mentioned in 1554/55 as a pupil in Antwerp of the Mechelen painter Anthuenes (Anthoni) Bessemer.
lieutenant is uncertain whether Hans Verhagen den Stommen is identical to the Hans Verhagen who executed in 1576 two paintings, one depicting Moses striking water from the rock, and the other the Judgment of Solomon which were made for the town hall in Emden, Germany, where they hung until 1944 (now in the Ostfriesisches Landesmuseum in Emden). There was also a painter called Hans Verhaghen from Mechelen who worked around 1600 in Rotterdam and Delft, who is believed to have painted cartoons for the tapestry works. lieutenant is not clear whether this person is identical to Hans Verhagen den Stommen.
His nickname ‘’den Stommen’’ means "mute" in Dutch and indicates that he may have been mute.