Early Life, Family and Training Arent de Gelder enters the scene in Dordrecht, born on October 26, 1645, into a family of rising status. His father, Jan Aertsz de Gelder, was born in 1609 and worked as a cooper of wine barrels. By the time Arent reaches maturity, the family has moved from the Wijnstraat to a different house on the same street, reflecting the prosperity of his father, who eventually held high positions within the local…