Johannes "Jan" I Sadeler was born in Brussels in 1550, the eldest of three brothers of the prominent engraving and publishing family. Originally lived in Antwerp; c.1579 to Cologne, often returning to Antwerp; from 1588-95 court engraver in Munich with Raphael I; both left Munich in 1595 and moved to Venice via Verona; imperial privilege 1581, renewed 1593; papal privilege granted c.1598. Jan died in Venice in 1600 and his son Justus took over the firm there. Raphael returned to Munich. Sadeler's unclear signature led Hollstein to attribute some of his prints to the non- existent: 'J. Haeyler'.