Adriaen de Vries

Adriaen de Vries (1545-1626)

Adriaen de Vries was born in The Hague, the son of an apothecary. Little is known about his youth and apprenticeship - who actually taught him the art and technique of sculpture remains a mystery. However, he is known to have worked for a period in Florence. There he joined the famous sculptor Giovanni da Bologna - also known as Giambologna - who had originally come from Flanders as Jean Boulogne. It was from this master that De Vries learned the finer points of mannerist sculpture.