Lucas van Valckenborch (Lucas van Valkenborch), one of the most important painters of northern Alpine Mannerism, was born at Löwen around 1535. He was from a large family of painters.
It is not known when and from whom Lucas van Valckenborch (Lucas van Valkenborch) received lessons in art, it can be assumed that he was taught by a family member.
In 1560 the Mechelen painters gild accepted Lucas van Valckenborch (Lucas van Valkenborch) as master. The service of Jaspar van der Linden in the studio of Lucas van Valckenborch is documented for 1564. In Mechelen Lucas van Valckenborch (Lucas van Valkenborch) was active as "Tüchleinmaler" (cloth painter). In a typical Mechelen tradition he painted watercolor on canvas, which would serve as simple tapestries.
After 1566 Lucas van Valckenborch (Lucas van Valkenborch), by that time a married man, is documented in Liége, Brussels, Aachen and Antwerp.
Before 1579 Lucas van Valckenborch (Lucas van Valkenborch) was appointed personal painter of archduke Matthias of Austria, whom he accompanied, presumably in 1582, on a journey to Linz, where documents record Lucas van Valckenborch (Lucas van Valkenborch) up until 1593.
His art, which shows clear traces of influence from Pieter Brueghel the Elder and Cornelis Massys, was dedicated to genre painting, religious themes and, first and foremost, landscapes. In the latter Lucas van Valckenborch prefers wide open landscapes in typical Flemish style. Lucas van Valckenborch also was a gifted portray painter.
In 1593 Lucas van Valckenborch (Lucas van Valkenborch) went from Linz to see relatives in Frankfurt am Main. By that time he was an old and ill man seeking convalescence and recovery near Frankfurt. In 1594 Lucas van Valckenborch (Lucas van Valkenborch) was granted Frankfurt civil right. Three years later, in 1597, Lucas van Valckenborch (Lucas van Valkenborch) died in Frankfurt am Main.