ORLEY, Bernaert van
(b. 1491/92, Bruxelles, d. 1542, Bruxelles)

Portrait of Margareta van Oostenrijk

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Wood
Musées Royaux des Beaux-Arts, Brussels

In his own day, van Orley was called the Raphael of the North, which speaks rather more for Raphael's fame than it does for northern judgment. His principal patrons were successive Regents of the Netherlands, Margaret of Austria and Mary of Hungary. Van Orley is at his best in portraits.