KESSEL, van, Flemish family of painters

Jan van Kessel I (1626-1679) is the son of Hieronymus van Kessel (1578-after 1636), a successful portrait and figure painter, and Paschasia Brueghel, daughter of Jan Brueghel the Elder. (His grandfather, a draper, was named also Jan van Kessel, perhaps explaining the confusion of the artist being known by both Jan van Kessel I and Jan van Kessel II.)

Jan van Kessel I's painter sons were Ferdinand van Kessel (1648-after 1696) and Jan van Kessel II (1654-1708). His nephews were Jan Brueghel the Younger (1601-1678) and David Teniers the Younger (1610-1690).