Justus Sustermans

Justus Sustermans
Self-Portrait, c. 1660
Born28 September 1597
Died23 April 1681
Known forPainting


Justus Sustermans, Joost Sustermans or Suttermans, his given name Italianised to Giusto (28 September 1597  23 April 1681), was a Flemish painter and draughtsman who is mainly known for his portraits. He also painted history and genre paintings, still lifes and animals.

Sustermans is chiefly noted for his portraits of members of the Medici family as he was its court painter. The Holy Roman Emperor Ferdinand II invited him to Vienna to paint portraits of the Imperial family and granted Sustermans and his brothers patents of nobility. During his lifetime he was fêted as the finest portrait painter in Italy.