jacob van reesbroeck was born in antwerp on or shortly before 6 december 1620 (the date of his baptism). at the age of 14 he commenced his artistic training under jacob spaeingaert, an obscure portrait painter. he studied painting as well as engraving. van reesbroeck became a master of the antwerp guild of saint luke in 1641. in the same year he was inducted into the 'sodaliteit of bejaerde jongmans', a fraternity for bachelors established by the jesuit order. in 1642 he became a free master of the 'schilder-kamer' (the "painter’s chamber') of the guild of saint luke.