Background
Norbert van Bloemen was born in Antwerp as the younger brother of Pieter and January Frans.
Norbert van Bloemen was born in Antwerp as the younger brother of Pieter and January Frans.
He is known for his Italianizing landscapes and genre scenes reminiscent of the style of the low-life paintings of the Bamboccianti. He also painted portraits and some history paintings. These two older brothers were painters who would go on to have successful careers in Italy and Antwerp.
Pieter and January Frans later travelled on to Rome where in 1688 they were registered in the parish of Sant"Andrea delle Fratte.
lieutenant was common practice in the Bentvueghels to give each member a nickname, the so-called "bent name". Norbert"s bent name was "Cefalus" or "Cephalos".
The reason why he was named after this Greek mythological hero has not been preserved. Norbert possible first returned to Antwerp but did not settle in his home country possibly because of a lack of commercial success.
He then went to live and work in Amsterdam instead.
He remained there for the remainder of his life.
Bentvueghels]
Norbert became a member of the Bentvueghels, an association of mainly Dutch and Flemish artists active in Rome.