Brief Biography-Ferdinand de Braekeleer, the Elder, was a historical painter from Antwerp. When his parents died, he went to the art school for orphans in Antwerp, where he studied under Mathieu Ignace van Brée. From there, he went to the Academy of Fine Arts. He succeeded in Paris with his paintings and afterwards in Antwerp; he won a scholarship to study in Italy, where he studied for two years.
When he returned to Antwerp, he had considerable success with historical paintings and tutored upcoming artists such as Jan August Hendrik Leys. His sons Ferdinand, Henri and nephew Adriaan also became successful artists.