Mocking of Christ, by Frans Francken (II) and possibly Ambrosius Francken (II)

1620-1625

The composition repeats that of a large altarpiece designed by Annibale Carracci for the church of San Francesco a Ripa, Rome (now in the Louvre, Par...

Giovanni Francesco Romanelli (born Viterbo 1612; died Viterbo 1662) St. John the Baptist pointing out (revealing) Christ, in the far distance, to Simon Peter and Andrew. Oil on can...

Documents indicate that Cornelis Pietersz Bega was born in either 1631 or 1632 in Haarlem. His grandfather was the renowned history painter Cornelis Cornelisz van Haarlem (Dutch, 1562 - 1638), and his extended family included many other more minor painters, sculptors, and craftsmen. In the spring of 1653 he traveled with the portraitist and still life painter Vincent Laurensz van der Vinne (1628–1702) through Germany, visiting Frankfurt am Main, Heidelberg, Strasbourg, and Basel. Although, like Van der Vinne, he may have intended to continue on to Rome, Bega instead returned to Haarlem in June of that year. He joined the Guild of Saint Luke in 1654. Bega died unmarried in 1664 at the young age of 32, likely a victim of the plague that claimed many lives in Haarlem that year. Dutch artist biographer Arnold Houbraken wrote that Bega was the “first and best pupil” of Adriaen van Ostade (Dutch, 1610 - 1685), a painter of low-life genre scenes. Bega similarly specialized in paintings of jovial taverngoers, smokers, quack doctors, alchemists, and musicians, but he also created tender and sympathetic images of peasant families and nursing mothers. Like Ostade, he also produced etchings, and he may have been one of the first Dutch artists to experiment with monotypes. Bega was also a confident draughtsman, and made numerous chalk drawings remarkable for their sculptural quality. Houbraken wrote that Bega and his close friend Leendert van der Cooghen (1632–1681) frequently drew from life together. Early in his career, Bega painted in a loose, rough style similar to Ostade, although his paintings differ from Ostade’s in that they exhibit a greater degree of monumentality and occasionally include classical elements and figures derived from live models. Bega may have been influenced by the classicizing tradition in Haarlem painting, which he would have known both from the extensive art collection he inherited from his grandfather, as well as from contemporary Haarlem painters who had trained there, such as Salomon (1597–1664) and Jan de Bray...

This exquisite painting, resembling a precious jewel, serves as an exceptional illustration of the devotional cabinet paintings created by Giuseppe Maria Crespi, a highly original Bolognese artist during the late 17th and early 18th centuries. Crespi's distinctiveness extended beyond his unique style and technique to the subjects he chose to portray. While his portraits and genre paintings often displayed a light-hearted and even irreverent tone, his treatment of religious themes resonated with deep emotion, even in its most inventive forms. This recently uncovered work by Crespi is a typical representation, invoking the tender connection between mother and child, and the Child's destiny, all within a compact and intimate format. Executed on a small scale, the painting showcases Crespi's remarkable sensitivity and mastery of paint, especially evident in the expressive brushwork of the drapery. The restrained and focused composition of the Holy Family allows for contemplation of the figures. Mary cradles the Christ child gently, seemingly presenting him to the viewer, her gaze knowing as the infant holds a diminutive cross, symbolizing his future crucifixion. Joseph appears in the background, emerging from the left side of the frame, gazing upward with folded hands in prayer. Individual motifs from this painting reappear in other works by Crespi, suggesting a synthesis of familiar elements into a vibrant composition. The artist's revisitation of designs throughout his career is evident, and this painting on copper likely belongs to a later period, reflecting stylistic ties to other works and Crespi's increased production of smaller devotional pieces. Distinguished by its cool palette, bold coloration, and the expressive force of the artist's hand, this Holy Family painting...

The Trial of Christ Dutch Old Master, 17th century oil on panel, unframed panel: 11 x 7.5 inches provenance: private collection, England, Christies auction stencil marks verso condi...

We would like to thank Dr. Ursula Härting who, after examining the work, confirmed the autograph nature of this painting by Frans Francken the Younger in a certificate issued on December 9, 2024. In this previously unpublished painting coming from a French private collection, Frans Francken the Younger tackles one of his favorite themes: the adoration of the Magi, the wise men who come from the East to adore the infant Jesus in Bethlehem, Judea. This theme was often taken up by the artist, but this version, which can be dated around 1610, is one of the earliest interpretations. 1. Frans Francken the Younger, "a surprisingly inventive painter". Frans Francken the Younger is the best-known member of an extended artistic family that worked in Antwerp from the late sixteenth to the late seventeenth century. Born in 1581, he almost certainly studied with his father, Frans Francken the Elder (c. 1542-1616), before becoming a master in the Antwerp Saint Luke's Guild in 1605. In 1627 he became a member of the Antwerp archers' guild De Oude Handboog. Francken was an extremely productive and imaginative artist who specialized in expressively rendered small-scale religious and mythological scenes. He also painted larger altarpieces for Catholic churches. His depictions of collectors' cabinets introduced a genre of painting that influenced several artists, including Jan Brueghel the Elder...

The Flagellation of Christ Old Master Flemish School 17th century Medium: Oil on copper Dimensions: Image size 22 x 17 cm, frame size 39 x 31 cm

Flemish school 17th or 18th century Circle of Thomas WILLEBOIRTS BOSSCHAERT (Berg-op-Zoom, 1613 - Antwerp, 1654) Oil on canvas 72 x 59 cm (90 x 77 cm with frame) This work has been painted in a style close to the Antwerp school of the middle of the 17th century, to Anton van Dyck especially. We have found in particular several paintings similar to our painting in the works of Thomas Willeboirts Bosschaert. After having studied with Gerard Seghers...