Background
De Grebber was born in Haarlem, the oldest son of Frans Pietersz de Grebber (1573–1643), a painter and embroiderer in Haarlem, and the brother of the painters Maria and Albert. He learned to paint from his father and from Hendrick Goltzius. He was descended from a Catholic and artistic family and his sister Maria later became the mother-in-law of Gabriel Metsu.
Career
His pupils were Gerbrand Ban, Nicolaes Pietersz Berchem, Egbert van Heemskerck, and Dirck Helmbreeker. lieutenant was then handed - via the English ambassador in the Republic, Sir Dudley Carleton - to king Charles I. Pieter got important commissions not only in Haarlem, but also from the stadholder Frederik Hendrik. As such, he worked on the decoration of the Huis Honselaarsdijk in Naaldwijk and at the Paleis Noordeinde in Huis ten Bosch in the Hague.
He painted altar pieces for churches in Flanders and hidden Catholic churches in the Republic.
He may also have worked for Danish clients. Pieter remained single and lived from 1634 until his death at the Haarlem Béguinage.
Membership
Haarlem Guild of Saint Luke]
In 1632 he became a member of the Haarlem Guild of Saint Luke, but he had already been active as a painter for 10 years.