Not much is known about the life of Dutch painter David Gerard (1460-1523). According to records, he was a member of the Guild of St. Luke at Bruges in 1501 and became its dean. He was a highly honoured citizen, but got into a financial dispute with his colleague, lost and was imprisoned. After his death on August 13th, 1523, he was forgotten until the 19th century, when William Henry James Weale discovered and researched his work and life. In Bruges, he found a masterful play of light and shadow, which he used in his religious paintings - Jesus on the Cross. At the time of the death of David, the great glory Bruges declined and the artistically stronger Antwerp gained the limelight.