Background
Willaerts was born in Utrecht, the son of the painter Adam Willaerts.
Willaerts was born in Utrecht, the son of the painter Adam Willaerts.
From 1638 to 1644 he served in the entourage of Count John Maurice of Nassau-Siegen, the governor of the Dutch possessions in Brazil. In 1659-1660 he visited Naples and Rome. He died in Utrecht.
He trained with his father, becoming a member of the Utrecht guild of painters in 1624, and studied under January van Bijlert in Utrecht and with Simon Vouet in Paris.