Brief Biography-Nicasius Bernaerts, a painter of animals, was born in Antwerp in 1620. He was a disciple of Francis Snyders, who influenced his works. In Italy, Ferdinando II de Medici acquired his paintings. He later worked in Paris and returned to Antwerp, becoming a master in the Guild of Saint Luke in 1654. When Bernaerts returned to Paris, he entered the Académie Royale; Alexander Francois Desportes was one of his many students. Bernaerts spent the remainder of his days at the Gobelins Manufactory in Paris. Sadly, he died in Paris, a poor man, due to alcoholism.