He was apprenticed in 1625 as a 'beeltsnijder' (sculptor) to Simon de Neef, who was an 'antijcsnijder' (ornamental sculptor). Later he worked under Erasemus Quilliness I and in 1641 he married his master’s daughter, Cornelia Quellinus.Through his marriage he became the brother in law of the leading Antwerp sculptor Artus Quelliness the Elder. He became master of the Antwerp Guild od St. Luke in 1641 and in 1659 he became the deacon of the Guild. His first wife died in 1662, and he remarried in 1665, to Elisabeth Lemmens.
He was the father of the sculptors Pieter Verbrugghen II and Hendrik Frans Verbrugghen. His daughter Suzanna married the sculptor Peeter Meesens His pupils included some of the leading representatives of the next generation of Flemish sculptors such as Jan Boeksant, Jan Claudius De cook,Martin Desjardins, Bartholomeus Eggers, Jan Lucas Faydeherbe, and Pieter Sheemaeckers.
He was included in Cornelis de Bies book on artists Het Gulden Cabinet , published in 1662, and the entry was accompanied by his engraved portrait.
WORK;
He worked in the Flemish High Baroque style that he had learned while collaborating with his brother-in-law Artus Quellinus the Elder. His works are rather static and thick-set.
Pieter Verbrugghen I completed the frontal decoration of the organ in the Antwerp Cathedral based on a design made by Erasmus Quilliness II. He and his workshop made the oak confessionals in the St.Paul's Church in Antwerp (between 1658 and 1660 Please see the picture attached). He made the oak organ case in that church in collaboration with Artus Quellinus the Elder in 1654, and together with his son Pieter Verbrugghen II he executed the designs for the high altar in 1670.
The pulpit in the St. Gummarus in Lier is another of his known creations. The original design for the pulpit was made by Erasmus Quellinus I, which, after his death, was somewhat changed by his son Artus. Pieter Verbrugghen I executed the design. PLEASE SEE THE PICTURES OF THIS VERY RARE 17thC SILVER SCULPTURE OF AN ARCHANGEL AS THEY FORM PART OF THE DESCRIPTION. PLEASE SEE OUR OTHER FINE SILVER FOR SALE. (NO ITEMS OF VALUE ARE STORED AT THE EBAY REGISTERED ADDRESS.