was an art loving man who had commissioned various paintings from the Flemish painter Gillis van Coninxloo who was living in Frankenthal at the time. It was likely this artistic stepfather who apprenticed the young Hendrik to a painter. Hendrik's master was the young Flemish painter Gillis van Valckenborch (1569, Antwerp - 1622, Frankfurt). Gillis van Valckenborch was the son of the painter Marten van Valckenborch (1534, Leuven - 1612, Frankfurt) and nephew of the famous painter Lucas van Valckenborch (1536, Leuven - 1597, Frankfurt). This apprenticeship likely lasted until about 1604. During this period Hendrik must have met the painter Georg Flegel, who had been a student of Lucas van Valckenborch. After completing his apprenticeship Hendrik likely went on a long study trip to Italy. He spent between 1604 and about 1610 mostly in Rome, where he trained with an expert in Antiquities (Epigraphy, Numismatics). He likely returned to Frankfurt after the death of his stepfather Anton Mertens on 5 August 1609 to deal with the inheritance. In 1611 he is recorded in Frankenthal, where he married on 28 May 1611 with Dina van Couwenberghe. His wife was the great-granddaughter of the Brussels painter Philippe van Orley, the brother of the famous Brussels painter Bernard van Orley. Hendrik lived and worked from 1611 to 1627 in the thriving Flemish colony in Frankenthal where six of his children were born of whom Hendrik the Younger became a painter. Since he was independently rich, Hendrik could probably choose which commissions to accept. In 1613 he came into contact with the court of Heidelberg for which he created together with the Flemish-born painter Anton Mirou the illustrations for a book that commemorated the festive reception and entry of the wedding couple, Frederick V of the Palatinate and Elisabeth Stuart, the daughter of the English King Jacob I, in Frankenthal. He further worked on the decorations of the city Frankenthal on the occasion of these festivities around 4 June 1613. On this occasion he met the young English Thomas Howard, 21st Earl of Arundel, who accompanied the English Princess. Arundel was a passionate art lover and collector who probably did not miss the chance to talk to Hendrik and see his art collection brought from Italy. At the beginning of the Thirty Years War Frankenthal was besieged by Spanish troops in 1621. In 1623, Frankenthal finally came "contractually" under the control of the