Jakob Binck, one of the most popular German Renaissance painters and graphic artists was born at Cologne between 1494 and 1500. He was presumably trained in Nuremberg, for his graphic art resembles that of Albrecht Dürer and the brothers Beham.
Between 1525 and 1532 Jakob Binck (Jakob Bink) traveled the Netherlands, where he also found inspiration for his art. Afterwards he accepted a post as "jacob Maler, Contrafeieren" at the Copenhagen court under king Christian III as of 1533. There Jakob Binck (Jakob Bink) was especially focussed on portraits, both in painting and graphic art, additionally, he was active as seal and medal maker. There is proof for activities of Jakob Binck (Jakob Bink) in Sweden for 1541/42, where he made a portrait of king Gustav Wasa.
In 1543 Jakob Binck (Jakob Bink) relocated to Königsberg, following the call of yet another ruler, duke Albert of Prussia. Binck‘s employment contract from 1547, who granted him the privilege of travelling abroad, is proof of how much Jakob Binck (Jakob Bink) was acknowledged among people of highest ranks.
Another example thereof is the appeal of king Christian III in 1548, asking him to return to his former post in Copenhagen. A request that Jakob Binck (Jakob Bink) would follow. In 1549 he finally went to Antwerp, in order to supervise a task that duke Albert of Prussia had commissioned Cornelis Floris with. In 1553 the popular artist Jakob Binck (Jakob Bink) returned to Königsberg from where he left for working stays to Denmark (1554 to 1556), Finland (1561) and Courland (1565).
Art history first and foremost knows Jakob Binck (Jakob Bink) for his virtuos graphic works, that stand in the tradition of the brothers Beham and Lukas van Leyden. The widely spread reproductions of works by artists such as Albrecht Dürer, Martin Schongauer, Hans Baldung and Albrecht Altdorfer are also ingenious. Jakob Binck (Jakob Bink) achieved his greatest autonomy as portraitist in graphic works, paintings and medal art.
Jakob Binck (Jakob Bink) died at Königsberg in 1569.