The portrait painter Louis Cousin was born in Brussels. Most likely he started with his apprenticeship around 1617, but his teacher is unknown. According to Sandrart, Cousin continued his study in Paris. He was in Rome as early as 1626. Cousin became a member of the Bentvueghels. His Bent name was Primo [First]. He is also known as Ludovicus Cousin, alias Primo, alias Gentile. Louis Cousin spent around thirty years in Rome. In the literature is mentioned that he produced 27 small devotional paintings on copper for Innocent X between 1646 – 1652. Payments are recorded in the Camerale accounts in the Archivio di Stato in Rome. (SR)
