Anthonie Stevaerts Palamedesz. was born to a gem cutter in Delft in 1601. Shortly after his birth the family moved to London, since his father worked in the service of King James I of England. After the family's return to Delft, Anthonie received his training, perhaps under the portrait painter Michiel Jansz. van Miereveld, who worked at the court in The Hague. The Haarlem native Hendrik Pot, who lived in Delft in 1620, may have given Palamedesz. instruction in genre painting. On 6 December 1621 he enrolled in his hometown's Guild of St Luke, in which he served as 'hoofdman' (captain) in 1635, 1658, 1663 and 1672. On 30 March 1630 Palamedesz. married Anna Joosten van Horendijck. Of their six children, only his oldest son, Palamedes, followed him in the painting profession. His first painting dates from 1632, a 'Merry Company' (The Hague, Mauritshuis). Apparently the family enjoyed a certain affluence, for in 1638 Palamedesz. purchased a house for the considerable sum of 3,400 gulden. His first wife died on 17 October 1651; seven years later he married again. With Aagje Woedewart he had another son, born on 29 December 1658. The painter's fortunes had changed in the meantime, for in 1668 he was given an allowance from the city of Delft. At the end of his life Palamedesz. probably lived with his oldest son in Amsterdam, where he died on 17 November 1673 and was buried four days later. In addition to landscapes, still lifes and portraits, Palamedesz. painted mainly small-format interior genre scenes that closely resemble works by Dirck Hals, Pieter Codde and Willem Duyster. For the figural staffage he repeatedly worked together with Anthonie de Lorme and Dirck van Delen. Palamedesz. presumably ran a drawing school. Among his pupils were his brother, the battle painter Palamedes Palamedesz. I, his oldest son, Palamedes Palamedesz. II, and Ludolph de Jongh.
