early life and training michael sittow, also known as master michiel, michel sittow, or melchior alemán, was born around 1469 in reval (now tallinn), estonia—a city nestled within the hanseatic league during its golden age. details about his formative years remain elusive, shrouded in historical obscurity; however, scholarly consensus suggests he received his initial artistic education from his father, clawes van der sittow, a respecte…