Background
Spilberg was born and died in Düsseldorf. He learned to paint from his father, who painted in oils and on glas, who then sent him to Antwerp, to learn under Rubens.
Spilberg was born and died in Düsseldorf. He learned to paint from his father, who painted in oils and on glas, who then sent him to Antwerp, to learn under Rubens.
While underway, he heard that Rubens had died, so he settled in Amsterdam and became apprentice to Govert Flink, a student of Rembrandt, for seven years. He worked for years as family portrait painter for Johann Wilhelm, Elector Palatine. Though he worked in Düsseldorf, he kept his family in Amsterdam, since he was traveling with his patron most of the time anyway.
Her father wanted her to marry a painter, however, and felt her chances were higher of finding a good one in Amsterdam.
Eventually, she did marry the painter Willem Breekveld in 1684, but he died in 1687. He is known for portraits, landscapes, and historical allegories in the Rembrandt school.