Background
Kober was born in Wrocław then known as Breslau, Silesia.
Kober was born in Wrocław then known as Breslau, Silesia.
Trained as a guild painter, he traveled through Germany for three years as a wandering journeyman to gain experience in different workshops. In 1583 he came to the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth from Magdeburg and become court painter of King Stephen Báthory and Queen Anna Jagiellon. After the King"s death he returned to Wrocław, from where he joined the Imperial court of Rudolf II in Prague as a portrait painter, due to the conflict with other guild painters in the city.
The emperor released him from the guild laws in 1587.
After his return to Poland in 1590 he was employed by King Sigismund III Vasa and worked in Krakow and Warsaw. He also traveled to Graz in 1595 to paint portraits of the family of Archduke Charles II for Queen Anne of Austria.
Kober died in Krakow or Warsaw.