Born in the Netherlands, Willem van Tetrode traveled to Italy during the mid-16th century to refine his craft. He famously worked in the studio of Benvenuto Cellini in Florence, where he adopted the sophisticated bronze-casting methods that would define his career.

His work is characterized by dynamic, small-scale bronze figures that reflect the influence of Mannerism and his direct study of classical antiquity. Upon returning to Delft in the late 1560s, he played a pivotal role in transmitting these Italianate techniques to the next generation of Northern sculptors, including Adriaen de Vries.

Recent institutional focus on the Medici collections, such as the restoration of the Stanzino delle Matematiche at the Uffizi Galleries, continues to highlight the historical significance of the bronze works produced by artists like van Tetrode during his tenure in Florence.