January van Kessel the Elder was born into a family of artists and was member of the famous Flemish dynasty of painters of the Brueghel family. The painter was the son of Hieronymus van Kessel the Elder and Paschasia Brueghel (the daughter of January Brueghel the Elder), thus becoming January Brueghel the Elder"s grandson.
As a result of being born into this family he received his artistic training through the family members, that were like him all artists. The 17th-century Flemish biographer Cornelis de Bie included van Kessel in his book on Flemish painters called Het Gulden Kabinet. Arnold Houbraken praised him for the neatness of his flower paintings for which he was known during his lifetime.
As part of the Brueghel family, he went on training other painters and also his own family members.
Antwerp Guild of Saint Luke]
He became a member of the Antwerp Guild of Saint Luke in 1644 as "blomschilder" (flower painter).
