According to Karel van Mander he had been the pupil of the glass painter January Swart van Groningen. He took his name from his father "Krepel Pieter" (English: "Cripple Peter"), and though he was a good student who quickly outshone his master, he died young in Autun after being there a short while during a tour of France. He became a pupil of January Swart of Groningen, but died relatively young, at Autun.