Gabriel Karg was born in Augsburg at a time when the city was still part of Swabia, the son of Hans Karg [de] by his marriage to Sabina Gucker.[2] It was probably in 1591 that Karg relocated to Stuttgart where his father had been a court painter since 1588 and was working in the new de:Neues Lusthaus StuttgartLusthaus(theatre and recreation centre), in which Gabriel joined him.[3] Later he became a painter, probably sticking exclusively to portraits (unlike his father). In 1594 he produced an oil painting, probably of Johann Magirus, which formed the basis for another very similar painting of Johann Magirus that he painted in 1604, and which carried the signature "G. Karg". In search of further wealthy clients for a portraitist he then moved to Tübingen, where in 1601 he became registered as one of the "illuminista". However, there was considerable competition between portrait painters in Tübingen, by 1607 he had moved back to Augsburg.[1]
From his time in Württemberg six portraits survived till the twentieth century. Two of these are part of the extensive collection at the Professors' Gallery ("Professorengalerie") at the University of Tübingen.[4]