Jan Gossaert is regarded one of the most important representatives of Mannerism and a precursor of a Dutch art that followed an Italian style in the 16th and 17th century (Romanism).
Jan Gossaert was born in the 1470s, presumably around 1478, in Maubeuge in Hennegau. His sobriquet "Mabuse", in latinized form "Malbodius", is derived from his place of birth.
Jan Gossaert was presumably trained in Bruges, in 1503 he was registered with the Antwerp painters gild. As painter Jan Gossaert became soon so established that he accompanied Philipp of Burgundy on a diplomatic journey to Rome in 1508/09. This was also where Jan Gossaert came in contact with the masterpieces of Renaissance and antiquity.
After he had returned to the Netherlands, he was active in Bruges and Mecheln, but predominantly in Middelburg. Philipp of Burgundy remained one of Mabuse´s most important commissioners even after his return. His works with mythological and religious subjects , as well as portraits were quite popular with the high nobility.
In terms of his relevance for art history, Jan Mabuse was nothing less than a revolutionary. he laid the basis for Romanism, which would shape Dutch art up until the late 17th century. From his journey to Italy he brought home the artistic ideas of Renaissance. This was how Dutch painting could overcome the superior traditions from the 15th century, in which the early works by Mabuse still stood. This tradition was replaced by his orientation with antiquity, Italian masters and Albrecht Dürer after the Italian journey.
Jan Gossaert´s personal style is dominated by a bulky, cloddy and exaggerated physical plasticity. This method becomes particularly obvious in his highly modern nude figures that Mabuse established in the Netherlands. His coloring shows a cool and metallic note.
In 1532 Jan Gossaert, a precursor of style development, died at Breda.