in the period between 1649 and 1653 van reesbroeck painted his first known work: the "", (royal museums of fine arts of belgium). edward hyde, 1st earl of clarendon was a british statesman who after the execution of charles i of england left england and resided in antwerp between 1649 and 1653 with his second wife and daughter. van reesbroeck received many commissions for portraits from ecclesiastical clients, including ambrosius capello and benedicto blommaerts. at the same time van reesbroeck received commissions from local and foreign secular patrons. he was asked by balthasar moretus ii to produce four portraits of members of the moretus family, the owners of the plantin press in antwerp. he also painted the portraits of prominent aristocrats such as those of and frederick william, elector of brandenburg.