A representative painter of the Antwerp school and a contemporary of Frans Floris, the Master of 1540, whose work was influenced by the Dutch painters, is among the painters who studied in the south of Antwerp. It is difficult to situate this master in a precise chronology. His paintings, which have been compared to the works of Nicolas Neufchatel, were executed between 1541 and 1551.
Known as a portrait painter only, the Master of 1540 worked essentially for the haute bourgeoisie. The majority of his paintings are portraits of quality men and women, whose identities are mostly unknown. It is rare to find coats of arms or inscriptions allowing us to identify them.
His models are outlined with a precise stroke. He makes the light tones of the faces and hands stand out against the sombre background and dark clothes, which are enhanced through the luminous touch of a jewel, a button or a fastener. Sometimes, he casts the shadow of the character onto the background of the painting, thus emphasising the effect of depth in his paintings. This technique and the enveloping contours he uses remind us of the late works of Joos van Cleve. He remains closely attached to social conventions in the execution of his paintings as regards the position of the model, just like the painter Bartholomeus Bruyn.
