( fl c. 1611–32). Swedish painter. His name is derived from his portraits of Niels Bielke of Åkerö (1614; Stockholm, Skokloster Slott) and his children Thure Bielke and Sigrid Bielke (both c. 1622 or earlier). An earlier, full-figure portrait of Karl IX, King of Sweden (c. 1605–11; Romrod, Schloss) shows traces of the Master’s style. With his retardataire manner, in the style of c. 1500, the Master of Bielke is closely related to the Master of Bysta ( fl c. 1610–20), but in comparison with the latter’s sober, simple work, the Master of Bielke’s pictures are mannered and stylized. Together they are considered the most interesting Swedish portrait painters of the early 17th century, and there is strong reason to believe that one of them, probably the Master of Bielke, can be identified as the Swedish court painter Holger (Holgerdt) Hansson (b before 1570; d 1624), who is known to have worked for Niels Bielke (1569–1639). In 1622 Hansson received orders for interiors and portraits for the royal apartments in the Kungliga Slott in Stockholm; the portraits, which included Duke John and his Consort and Gunilla Bielke (both ?1624), have not survived, and no other portraits were signed by Hansson. Although the Master of Bielke was prolific, no further work can be identified today except a portrait etching of Gustav II Adolf, King of Sweden (1618; Strömbom, fig. 160) in a church Bible.

Part of the Masters, anonymous, and monogrammists family