Æneas' apoteose

1607–1615

Eight years in Adam van Noort's house

In 1607 the Guild of Saint Luke registered Jordaens as a pupil of Adam van Noort, who had also taught Rubens. Van Noort remained his only teacher: the pupil lived in his house on the Everdijstraat and became very close to the family.

1615

Admitted to the guild as a master “water painter”

After eight years of training Jordaens was admitted to the Antwerp Guild of Saint Luke as a master waterscilder (“water painter”), one who painted in water-based paints the canvases that served as substitutes for tapestries or as tapestry cartoons; other accounts give 1616. Unlike Rubens and van Dyck, he never went to Italy and, apart from short trips within the Low Countries, lived in Antwerp all his life.

15 May 1616

Marries his master's daughter Catharina van Noort

Jordaens married Adam van Noort's eldest daughter Catharina (other accounts call her Anna Catharina). At first the couple lived with or near his father-in-law; they had three children: Elisabeth, Jacob, who became a painter, and Anna Catharina.

1617

Daughter born: Elisabeth Jordaens

1618

Buys a home in the quarter where he grew up

Jordaens and his wife bought a home in the neighbourhood where he grew up: by some accounts, two adjoining houses on the Hoogstraat behind the house of the merchant Backx; by others, a house at Reyndersstraat 4. His father-in-law later moved in with them; here the painter set up his studio and spent nearly all his life.

28 September 1621

Dean of the Guild of Saint Luke

Jordaens accepted the post of dean of the Guild of Saint Luke on condition that he alone would cover the expenses of his term but would not be liable for the debts left by his predecessors. He held the post for only one year.